CNN Correspondent Suspended for Syrian Refugee Tweet

“Statue of Liberty bows head in anguish”.

House passes bill that could limit Syrian refugees.

CNN has suspended global affairs correspondent Elise Labott after she broke from straight news reporting Thursday afternoon to engage in commentary.

Labotts’ choice to engage in commentary was soon questioned by the Washington Post’s Erik Wemple, who asked her on social media whether her tweet comported “with CNN editorial guidelines“.

“I was stunned that Elise Labott, a CNN reporter, would tweet about Statue of Liberty hanging its head after Syrian refugee bill passed”, added Howard Kurtz, a media-focused Fox News host. My tweet was inappropriate and disrespectful.

By linking her CNN article about the Syrian refugee crisis to a tweet where she clearly expresses her opinion on the controversy Labott destroyed her credibility as an objective reporter, and tarnished the reputation of CNN.

The Republican-led House passed the bill by a 289-137 margin. In a stunning blow to Obama, a number of House Democrats voted for the Republican-backed bill on Thursday. That allows people from 38 countries to enter the USA for short stays – a program a few lawmakers say could be more vulnerable to terrorists trying to enter the country.

Ms Labott joined CNN in 2000 and covered the Arab spring uprising and the attack 2011 attack on the United States consulate in Bengazi, Libya.

Reps at CNN did not immediately respond to request for comment.