Career suicide by Zoom: CNN analyst is suspended for 'masturbating during video call' because 'he thought no one could see'
The New Yorker magazine has suspended longtime writer Jeffrey Toobin after he exposed himself and masturbated during a work Zoom call.
The 60-year-old, who has written for the New Yorker for 25 years, is said to have exposed himself while on a video call with staffers from the magazine and New York public radio station WNYC last week.
He is also taking a leave of absence from CNN for whom he works on-air as a legal analyst.
Toobin apologized in a statement to Vice, saying he thought he had turned his camera off at the time of the incident.
'I made an embarrassingly stupid mistake, believing I was off-camera. I apologize to my wife, family, friends and co-workers,' he said.
'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. I apologize to my wife, family, friends and co-workers.'
The Zoom call was reportedly an 'election simulation', involving many of the magazine's biggest stars including Jane Mayer, Evan Osnos, Jelani Cobb and Sue Halpern.
The New Yorker magazine has suspended writer and CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin for exposing himself during a work Zoom call
Vice initially reported that that the incident involved the exposure of Toobin's 'd***' but it has since updated its story to state that he was allegedly masturbating.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are not completely clear however two people who were on the call have told Motherboard they witnessed Toobin masturbating.
The pair, who did not give their names, said that the incident happened after a break in the call.
Toobin apparently seemed to be on a separate call and when the break was over could allegedly be seen touching his penis. Toobin then left the call before logging back in shortly afterwards seemingly unaware at what others had just witnessed.
It is also not clear how many staffers were on the video call at the time.
A spokesperson for the New Yorker said Toobin had been suspended pending an investigation into the incident.
Toobin, who regularly uses Twitter, has not tweeted since October 13.
He made an appearance on CNN on Saturday where he is a chief legal analyst for the network.
CNN has since said that Toobin had asked for some personal time off and has taken a leave of absence.
'Jeff Toobin has asked for some time off while he deals with a personal issue, which we have granted,' a spokesperson for the network said on Monday.
Toobin has been a staff writer at the New Yorker since 1993 and a CNN contributor since 2002.
Toobin made an appearance on CNN on Saturday where he is a chief legal analyst for the network. CNN has since said that Toobin had asked for some personal time off, which they have granted
Prior to joining CNN, he had worked at the ABC as a legal expert from 1996.
He famously covered the OJ Simpson trial for the New Yorker in the 1990s and later wrote a book about his coverage that became the basis of the The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story TV show in 2016.
In regards to Simpson's trial, Toobin was the first to report his defense team's plan to accuse LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman of planting evidence and to play the race card.
He famously covered the OJ Simpson trial for the New Yorker in the 1990s and later wrote a book about his coverage that became the basis of the The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story TV show in 2016.
In regards to Simpson's trial, Toobin was the first to report his defense team's plan to accuse LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman of planting evidence and to play the race card.
Simpson compared Toobin to Pee-wee Herman in a short video clip posted to his Twitter just hours after the CNN analyst’s masturbation scandal broke.
“Daaaaamn, Jeffrey Toobin. At least Pee-wee Herman was in an X-rated movie theater,” Simpson said in the clip. “I’m just saying.”
OJ Simpson compared Toobin to Pee-wee Herman in a video clip uploaded to his Twitter account
Toobin has written nine books in total, including several about the Supreme Court.
His latest book, True Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Investigation of Donald Trump, was published in August.
Prior to joining the New Yorker, Toobin had worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in Brooklyn.
He is a Harvard University graduate.
Toobin lives in New York with his wife Amy Bennett McIntosh. The couple have three children together.
He has written nine books in total, including several about the Supreme Court.
His latest book, True Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Investigation of Donald Trump, was published in August.
Prior to joining the New Yorker, Toobin had worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in Brooklyn.
He is a Harvard University graduate.
Toobin lives in New York with his wife Amy Bennett McIntosh. The couple have three children together.
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