Florida Emergency Management director blasts 60 Minutes story as ‘bullsh*t’

In CBS News' statement released Tuesday, they claimed that they had been trying to reach Moskowitz for an on camera interview but he declined, instead speaking off camera twice.

"When Florida state data revealed people of color were vaccinated at a much lower rate than their wealthier neighbors, '60 Minutes' reported the facts surrounding the vaccine’s rollout, which is controlled by the governor," the statement from CBS News reads.

"We requested and conducted interviews with dozens of sources and authorities involved. We requested an interview with Gov. Ron DeSantis, he declined; we spoke to State Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz twice, but he declined to be interviewed on camera for our story until well after our deadline. The idea we ignored their perspective is untrue," they continue.

"For over 50 years, the facts reported by 60 MINUTES have often stirred debate and prompted strong reactions. Our story Sunday night speaks for itself."

Moskowitz replied to the statement on twitter, saying that he had in fact spoken with "60 Minutes" twice, but had told them that the story was untrue, and that the fact he didn’t have time due to the ongoing pandemic to sit for the camera shouldn’t change the truth.

"I did speak with '60 Minutes.' Never said I didn’t. they were very nice, but I told them that the Publix story was 'bulls—.' Walked them through the whole process," wrote Moskowitz. "The fact that I didn’t sit down on 'camera' because IU am responding to a 100 year emergency doesn’t change the truth."

Emails revealing some communication between CBS News and DeSantis' office regarding the Publix story were obtained by Fox News.

The Associate producer of "60 Minutes" Emily Gordon sent some questions to Meredith Beatrice, a DeSantis communications staffer, with a deadline of 5pm the next day.

Questions asked included: "How did the state determine that seniors were at greater risk than other groups," and a response to claims from "sources" who say the vaccine rollout favored wealthier white communities and left African American and Hispanic Floridians behind.

Beatrice responded to ask for more time for the office to answer the questions, but according to a close source, CBS never responded to the query. "60 Minutes" producer Oriana Zill de Granada's responded the next morning saying "please send us your responses when you are able," and confirming the Sunday airing of the DeSantis report.

Ultimately, Beatrice sent answers to the questions the Friday before the airing, which was past the deadline. Answers from DeSantis' office were not included.

She questioned the "arbitrary deadlines" set by the producer, noting that she "never encountered this issue before," and accused "60 Minutes" of refusing to interview Moskowitz.

"This lack of professionalism—it's clear you are more interested in pushing a baseless partisan narrative than in reporting the facts on Florida's successful vaccine distribution effort—from your team on this matter is greatly concerning," Beatrice told "60 Minutes" producers.

Emails then show that Beatrice had requested and stressed the importance of interviewing Moskowitz. Zill de Granados replied that they had allegedly been trying repeatedly since February to reach Moskowitz.

"Thank you for your input. Unfortunately, the deadline has passed. As you may know, the Covid pandemic makes our interview protocol much more complicated and time-consuming due to new distancing and testing requirements for correspondents and camera crews," Zill de Granados told Beatrice in a response Thursday afternoon.

Florida State Representative Omari Hardy, a DeSantis critic, was allowed to be interviewed remotely.

"Luckily, we have already spoken to Director Moskowitz several times. We appreciate his perspective on the roll out in Florida. We have included the information he provided on background as it pertains to this story," Zill de Granados continued.

In an interview on Fox News, Moskowitz was asked if he thought "60 Minutes" "appreciated his perspective" on the state’s vaccine rollout to which Moskowitz replied: "Did you see the perspective that the person in charge of the Covid response told them how Publix was selected in their agency and that the contribution story was garbage? They ran with pay to play, when I told them it was done by my agency and why and how. Did you see that perspective?"