Reports the New York Daily News:

CNN anchor Kyra Phillips was caught with her skirt down yesterday when she left her microphone on during a trip to the ladies room.

The mortifying episode came when Phillips stepped away from her desk during coverage of President Bush's Hurricane Katrina anniversary speech. Viewers saw Dubya's lips moving, but they heard Phillips pulling down a zipper and making girl talk with another woman in the rest room.

"I have the most handsome man," Phillips gushed. "Just a really passionate, great, great human being. And they exist! They are hard to find, but they are out there."

Phillips' sister-in-law didn't get such positive treatment.

"I've gotta be protective of [my brother]," she was heard saying as she washed her hands. "He's married, three kids, but his wife is just a control freak!"

The mishap had CNN producers cringing.

"I hope it doesn't look like Kyra made a mistake, because it was actually a technical malfunction, not a human error," an insider told The News' Ken Bazinet.

The network later said in a statement: "CNN experienced audio difficulties during the President's speech today in New Orleans. We apologize to our viewers and the President for the disruption."

Doesn't the sister-in-law deserve an apology, too?