In a stunning announcement, Bill Owens, the longtime executive producer of CBS's "60 Minutes," quit the news program, saying he could no longer run it with editorial independence.CBS has been embroiled in a legal battle with President Donald Trump, who sued the network last year for $10 million over its "60 Minutes" pre-November election interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.The legal trouble has cast a shadow over CBS parent Paramount's long-standing plan to sell to Hollywood production company Skydance, which requires White House approval.Legal experts have called the lawsuit indefensible, but Paramount's controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, has said she's in favor of settling the case, which many journalists at the network believe would amount to capitulation, the Times reported."Over the past months, it has also become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it. To make independent decisions based on what was right for 60 Minutes, right for the audience," Owens wrote in a memo sent to staff on Tuesday that was obtained by Business Insider. The New York Times earlier reported on his exit.Wendy McMahon, president of CBS News, praised Owens in a separate memo obtained by Business Insider for his "unwavering integrity, curiosity, and a deep commitment to the truth." She wrote that CBS remained committed to "60 Minutes" and to ensuring that its mission and the work remain a priority.The news comes as news outlets wrestle with how to counter threats from a president who has vowed revenge on his enemies, including the press.Here's the text of the note Owens sent to the "60 Minutes" staff