CNN pundit Jeffrey Toobin on leave amid disturbing sex scandal
Fox News senior correspondent Rick Leventhal has the latest on 'Hannity.'
"Real Time" host Bill Maher had some fun at the expense of CNN star Jeffrey Toobin amid his masturbation scandal.
Maher kicked off his opening monologue Friday night addressing the instantly infamous Zoom call Toobin had with his New Yorker colleagues, where he was allegedly seen masturbating, prompting his suspension from the magazine and a leave of absence from CNN.
"It's 11 days until the election, 11 days. I think the country is focused on one thing: Jeffrey Toobin jerked off on Zoom," Maher chuckled. "Jeffrey Toobin, he's a big CNN analyst... was whacking during a Zoom meeting in front of his colleagues!"
Maher's recap sparked groans from his audience.
"You're grossed out? Jesus Christ, he's been a guest on this show. I've had to shake his hand!" Maher exclaimed.
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The HBO star went on to mock CNN's chief legal analyst throughout the show, joking that his last name "Toobin" has become a verb. Toward the end of his show, during his "New Rules" segment, Maher called on Zoom to change its name to, "We Can See Your Penis."
"I realize that's a mouthful, but apparently some people need reminding that if there's one thing nobody likes seeing on their computer, it's unwanted pop-ups," Maher quipped.
The "Real Time" host did appear to feel somewhat bad for repeatedly mocking Toobin.
"This poor guy, we f---kin' hit him at the beginning, we hit him in the middle, and we hit him in the end," Maher laughed to his panel.
![CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin allegedly masturbated during a Zoom call with colleagues.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2020/10/1200/675/Jeffrey-Toobin-CNN.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin allegedly masturbated during a Zoom call with colleagues.
Vice broke the news Monday that the Zoom call, which was described as an "election simulation" that took place earlier this month, included Toobin's New Yorker colleagues Jane Mayer, Masha Gessen, Andrew Marantz, Jelani Cobb, Evan Osnos, Sue Halpern and Dexter Filkins playing various roles -- including President Trump, Joe Biden, "establishment Republicans," 'establishment Democrats," and "the military." Toobin was playing "the courts."
According to two sources, Toobin was seen masturbating in what was supposed to be a 10-minute "strategy session," though the report added that it "seemed like Toobin was on a second video call."
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"The sources said that when the groups returned from their breakout rooms, Toobin lowered the camera," Vice said. "The people on the call said they could see Toobin touching his penis. Toobin then left the call. Moments later, he called back in, seemingly unaware of what his colleagues had been able to see, and the simulation continued."
The detail about Toobin's alleged masturbation was added to the report after it was initially published, as noted by Vice: "This piece has been updated with more detail about the call and the headline has been updated to reflect that Toobin was masturbating."
Toobin, one of CNN's biggest stars, offered an apology for his "embarrassingly stupid mistake" and attempted to explain what led to the incident.
“I apologize to my wife, family, friends and co-workers," Toobin said in a statement to Motherboard. “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."
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A spokesperson for The New Yorker confirmed to Fox News, "Jeffrey Toobin has been suspended while we investigate the matter.”
CNN also said in a statement, "Jeff Toobin has asked for some time off while he deals with a personal issue, which we have granted.”