Exclusive | CBS Tony Dokoupil offers regrets at teary staff meeting after grilling anti-Israel author

“CBS Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil told staffers during an emotional meeting that he “regretted” putting them in a difficult position amid the brewing scandal at the network over his grilling of an anti-Israel author, The Post has learned.The embattled anchor spoke at Tuesday’s staff-only meeting — which was not attended by co-hosts Gayle King and Nate Burleson — a day after being reprimanded by CBS brass for his fiery sit-down with Ta-Nehsi Coates, a source with knowledge said.“Tony said he regretted putting his colleagues in that position especially the ones overseas and in danger,” the insider told The Post.“There were tears.[People were] very upset,” the source continued, adding that staffers are “divided” on the Israel-Palestinian conflict and were “troubled” by how Dokoupil challenged Coates last week.

Dokoupil, however, didn’t back down from his incisive questioning of Coates about his new book during the 11:30 a.m.meeting, which was led by “CBS Mornings” executive producer Shawna Thomas, sources said.A second source said that some black staffers who attended the meeting were critical that Burleson and King have remained tight-lipped about the matter.Dokoupil held a private meeting on Monday with his co-hosts in his office at 1515 Broadway, the second source said.

The details of the 30-minute pow-wow could not be immediately learned.Dokoupil did not return requests for comment.CBS News declined to comment.

In the days leading up to Tuesday’s meeting, the source said that “CBS Mornings” staffers complained to network top brass about the journalist’s treatment of Coates, who was promoting his latest book, “The Message.”The novel condemns what he called Israeli “apartheid” in its administration of the territories captured in the Six-Day War of 1967.Dokoupil, a convert to Judaism whose ex-wife lives in Israel along with their two children, took issue with Coates, saying that the book “would not be out ...