CBS legal correspondent apologizes after posting video of Abdul El-Sayed town-hall exchange
CBS News legal affairs reporter Jan Crawford deleted a tweet that featured a video of a Michigan Senate candidate’s town-hall where a heckler asked him to disavow the Muslim Brotherhood, and issued an apology citing network standards.
CBS News veteran correspondent Jan Crawford removed a tweet that included a video from a town-hall meeting with Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. In the post, Crawford thanked a heckler identified as “Tommy” and highlighted the exchange in which the heckler asked El-Sayed whether he would disavow the Muslim Brotherhood, a question used by El-Sayed’s Republican opponent. El-Sayed responded affirmatively and questioned the implication of dual loyalties.
Crawford later wrote on X that the tweet violated CBS News standards and apologized for the mistake. The deleted post prompted criticism from social-media users and media watchdogs, with some accusing the reporter of endorsing a partisan line against the candidate.
The incident also reportedly generated internal concern at CBS, according to a media reporter. The controversy occurs amid broader staffing changes at CBS News following the appointment of editor-in-chief Bari Weiss in October 2025, after Paramount Skydance’s acquisition of her outlet The Free Press.