CBS News places Lara Logan, producer Max McClellan on leave over faulty ’60 Minutes’ report

The end of the story is here for Lara Logan and producer Max McClellan on “60 Minutes,” at least for the time being. The two were placed on an immediate leave of absence today stemming from a Benghazi report on the news magazine earlier this fall, which contained false information from a source. This report felt in some ways like the sort of story that “The Newsroom” would often take advantage of, and it just goes to show you the difficulties and the pressure that comes with reporters ensuring that all of their information is accurate before running it on TV.

This latest move also shows you just how seriously CBS News takes their credibility, and how quickly they are willing to make a move if they deem it necessary for their show in the long-term. For some time, Logan was really viewed as a national hero for her determination and strength following a 2011 incident in Egypt, where she was brutally attacked and assaulted while trying to report on the rebellions in the country.

It is still unclear whether or not this sort of “leave” is one that will eventually lead to some sort of return date, or one that is really more similar to what happened to Don Draper on “Mad Men” this season, where they refuse to really tell you any information at all about whether or not they are coming back. It’s still our belief that one mistake like this, even if it is a devastating one, will probably not end Logan’s career when you consider her overall body of work. She will likely find another post in time, and earn an opportunity for redemption.

However, over the past several weeks she has been the target of great ridicule, and even “Saturday Night Live” openly mocked her in a skit in which they had her telling Toronto Mayor Rob Ford (played by Bobby Moynihan) that she “believed” everything that he was saying about not smoking crack or having a history of doing anything else questionable.

What do you think: Was this the right move for CBS News, even if it may have been a difficult one? Be sure to share your thoughts below.

Photo: CBS News