New Yorker writer suspended after allegedly masturbating during work Zoom call

The notorious legal analyst has been suspended indefinitely by the New Yorker

Credit: Evan Agostini /Invision

Jeffrey Toobin, a long-time legal expert and staff writer for the New Yorker, has been suspended from the magazine after he was allegedly caught masturbating on a work Zoom call.

“I made an embarrassingly stupid mistake, believing I was off-camera. I apologise to my wife, family, friends and co-workers,” Toobin said in a statement, refusing to elaborate further on the nature of the allegations.

“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.”

According to sources, cited anonymously by Vice News, those present on the call included staff from both the New Yorker and WNYC radio station. The purpose of the call was an election simulation, in which Toobin was playing the role of the courts.

During a ten minute break in which some individuals left the room, the sources say it appeared as though Toobin, 60, was on a second video chat. When they returned, Toobin reportedly lowered his camera, revealing the fact he was touching his penis. Toobin then left the call, before returning, seemingly unaware that his colleagues had seen what he was doing.

Mr Toobin has publicly apologised to his wife and children for the incident

Credit: Charles Dharapak /AP

A spokesperson for the magazine said: “Jeffrey Toobin has been suspended while we investigate the matter.”

In an email to staff, editor David Remnick said: “Dear All, As you may have read in various news reports today, one of our writers, Jeff Toobin, was suspended after an incident on a Zoom call last week. Please be assured that we take such matters seriously and that we are looking into it. Best, David.”

Toobin appears on CNN, for which he is a senior legal analyst. A spokesperson for the network said Toobin has requested time off while he “deals with a personal issue.”

Toobin has covered many of the biggest court battles in America, including the OJ Simpson trial and the Michael Jackson molestation case.

Zoom mishaps have been a common occurrence since the start of the pandemic. A legislator in Argentina’s parliament quit in September after being caught on camera kissing his mistress’s breasts during a congressional debate.