[fatbird]

It's not a violation of the CoC, it undermines the CoC, which is generally inappropriate. It's basically broadcasting "Don't take the CoC seriously".

[orless]

For this apology to undermine CoC, the moderated contributor (to whom the apology was made) must have violated CoC with his contribution (or whatever it was). Nobody links to that discussion anymore (probably better so).

Somehow it is quite hard to make an informed opinion in this case.