Major CNN Anchor Announces Departure From the Network

CNN's Candy Crowley has confirmed she is leaving the network.

Crowley, who has been with the network for 27 years, was most recently host of the network's Sunday show, "State of the Union."

While she has been a staple of CNN's political coverage for quite some time, she came under fire from Republicans during a 2012 presidential debate for seemingly defending the president during a tough back-and-forth with Mitt Romney about whether Obama used the word "terror" to immediately refer to the Benghazi attacks after September 11, 2011. She later conceded Romney was right in general.

HEMPSTEAD, NY - OCTOBER 16: Moderator Candy Crowley speaks at the start of the debate between Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and U.S. President Barack Obama during a town hall style meeting at Hofstra University October 16, 2012 in Hempstead, New York. During the second of three presidential debates, the candidates fielded questions from audience members on a wide variety of issues. Credit: Getty Images

“My mixed emotions are these:  I am leaving colleagues and viewers who over many years have become dear friends and faithful fans …but I have for sometime wanted to try something new in someplace new," she told TV Newser. "I have several weeks for good-byes, which are sad, but I am eager and excited to begin what comes next.”

As for what's next for her she deferred, only saying "more later."

"[I]t is with mixed emotions, that I wanted to let you know that Candy has let us know that she has made the decision to move on, so she can embark on the next chapter of her already prolific career," CNN head Jeff Zucker said in an internal email obtained by TV Newser. "As difficult as it is for us to imagine CNN without Candy, we know that she comes to this decision thoughtfully, and she has our full support. There will be more time in the weeks ahead for all of you who have been lucky enough to work with Candy to share your own thanks for all she has done. But for now, on behalf of everyone at CNN, I want to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation."

It's unclear who will replace her on "State of the Union."