The New Yorker magazine has suspended staff writer Jeffrey Toobin for exposing himself while on a Zoom call, according to Vice News.
Toobin appeared on CNN, where he is the channel’s chief legal analyst. However, on Monday, the network announced that he was taking a hiatus.
“Jeff Toobin has asked for some time off while he deals with a personal issue, which we have granted,” the network said in a statement.
The video conference call where the incident occurred was reportedly between Toobin and members of the New Yorker and WNYC radio.
In a statement to Motherboard, Vice’s online magazine dedicated to technology and science, Toobin expressed regret for the incident.
“I made an embarrassingly stupid mistake, believing I was off-camera. I apologize to my wife, family, friends and co-workers,” Toobin noted in a statement to Vice. “I believed I was not visible on Zoom. I thought no one on the Zoom call could see me. I thought I had muted the Zoom video.”
The Erik Wemple Blog texted Toobin to ask for an interview. He responded that he had nothing to add to his statement and asked us to let him know if “anything is unclear.” We responded that it’s uncertain just what happened. “What were you doing?” we asked.
“I thought the zoom camera was off,” he responded.
We asked why he was exposed. Response: “I have nothing further for you, sorry.” The Washington Post reported.
Watch ABC’s ‘The View’, these ladies at first seem to be trying to give their beloved Jeffrey Toobin a pass, at least until they learn Toobin had made a statement regarding his unfortunate situation. Come on already The View. Hypocrites! We liked Sara’s response though.
The 60-year-old has been a New Yorker writer for more than 20 years and joined CNN in 2002. He is the author of several books, most recently “True Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Investigation of Donald Trump,” published in August. His other works include “The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson” and “The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court.”