There are times where as an administrator that I have to use disciplinary action against a user in hopes that we can correct a behavior that is unacceptable.  Most of the times these can be easily addressed and moved on from stress free.  Most users learn, some take multiple times.  

With that being said:

Never in the history of MR has any situation been improved by a 3rd party swooping in go to do the defense of their friend.

When you inject yourself into another's situation - you complicate the matter.  When you inject yourself into the situation and then defend the action of breaking the rules - you become culpable.  It is *NOT* acceptable for any member to approve of, defend or even encourage breaking of the games rules.  It is especially not acceptable for a Crewleader to do it.

Stay in your lane.  When you come to the defense of your friends, I can't stress how important it is that you do not tie yourself to it by declaring with authority that the behavior is OK.

On a side note, the patience we have with anyone, as well as the hope that they can learn from the experience with just a slap on the wrist quickly fades away with every time you demonstrate that you have not learned from past disciplinary actions and pretty much solidifies the fact the behavior will continue.

TLDR;

Do not defend abuse.  Its not a good look.