Exclusive | ADL defends anchor Tony Dokoupil after CBS News panned tense interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates over Israel

A prominent Jewish civil rights group has come to the defense of Tony Dokoupil after the “CBS Mornings” anchor’s bosses found he had an “ax to grind” during his tough interview with controversial author Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Post has learned.Jonathan Greenblatt, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, contacted CBS News chief Wendy McMahon on Monday just after it was reported that Dokoupil was reprimanded over his interview with Coates last week, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. Insiders said the move to discipline Dokoupil followed an investigation by the network’s diversity and inclusion department.Several CBS staffers also had complained to their bosses that his questioning of Coates was too biased in favor of Israel, sources said.In response, CBS brass concluded that Dokoupil’s questioning indicated he had an “ax to grind,” and didn’t “set his personal feelings and beliefs aside,” according to a leaked recording of an editorial meeting.Now, the ADL is worried that Dokoupil could lose his job for pressing Coates on his far-left views about Israel in his latest book.

Ali Zelenko, the ADL’s senior vice president of external affairs, was slated to speak on Tuesday with McMahon, according to sources.In an interview with The Post, Greenblatt confirmed he spoke with McMahon on Monday, and made the organization’s position clear: That Dokoupil did nothing wrong in challenging Coates’ “one sided” views about the Israel-Palestinian conflict.Sign up to receive On The Money by Charlie Gasparino in your inbox every Thursday.

Please provide a valid email address.By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Never miss a story.“I just wanted to know what Dokoupil did wrong in questioning Coates’s conclusions,” Greenblatt added.

“And we’re continuing to ask those questions.”Greenblatt said he also told ...