Jeffrey Toobin Says Masturbating During Zoom Call With Colleagues Was ‘Moronic And Indefensible’

Jeffrey Toobin, a legal analyst for CNN, has returned to his position at the network after eight months away but revealed he won’t be defending himself after he was seen masturbating on a work-related Zoom call.

On Thursday, Toobin made an appearance on “CNN Newsroom” in which he discussed the October incident with anchor Alisyn Camerota. While reflecting on the situation Toobin said his behavior “was deeply moronic and indefensible.”

Toobin told Camerota that he was unaware his camera was on when he exposed himself to colleagues during the video meeting. “I didn’t think I was on the call. I didn’t think other people could see me,” he explained.

Camerota went on to question Toobin about why he didn’t show better judgment, but he admitted he didn’t have an answer.

“Because I didn’t have better judgment. Because I’m a flawed human being who makes mistakes,” he said. “It was wrong, it was stupid and I’m trying to be a better person.”

The 61-year-old revealed he spent “seven miserable months” working on himself, out of the spotlight, before returning to CNN. Toobin also took a moment to apologize to his family and colleagues for his inappropriate behavior.

“And I’m sorry to the people who read my work and who watched me on CNN who thought I was a better person than this. And so, you know, I got a lot to rebuild, but I feel very privileged and very lucky that I’m going to be able to try to do that,” he said.

Following the incident, Toobin was suspended and then fired from the New Yorker after 27 years of working for the magazine. Meanwhile, CNN announced the anchor would be taking a leave of absence but never stated whether he would return.