Brian Flood with Fox News has just penned an article exposing CNN’s Jake Tapper for engaging in political activism after he received a secret direct message from Tapper to Republican Sean Parnell, confirming that Tapper had tried to talk Parnell out of running against his Democrat friend:
FOX NEWS – CNN anchor Jake Tapper tried to convince Republican Sean Parnell not to run against incumbent Democrat Rep. Conor Lamb for a Western Pennsylvania House seat, according to a Twitter direct message obtained by Fox News.
Tapper suggested that Parnell, a U.S. Army combat veteran who recently delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention, would be better off running in a safer district for Republicans, according to a source close to, but unaffiliated with, Parnell’s campaign who feels the CNN anchor was unethically participating in political activism.
Fox News obtained a Twitter direct message that Tapper sent Parnell’s @SeanParnellUSA account on Nov. 8, 2019, after he officially declared his candidacy for Pennsylvania’s 17th congressional district against Democrat Rep. Lamb.
“And best of luck in your race. For the record, I wasn’t trying to talk you out of running — I was trying to talk you into running in a safer R district! Lol,” Tapper wrote to Parnell.
Below is the screenshot of the direct message from 2019:
This is a DM Tapper sent Parnell pic.twitter.com/SPA8YndGwu
— Brian Flood (@briansflood) September 10, 2020
It continues…
The direct message backs up a story that was reported earlier this week by Breitbart News, which cited “sources familiar with the interactions” and reported that Tapper “communicated his views on how Parnell should not run against Lamb in a variety of communication forms, including in text messages, Twitter direct messages, and in a phone call.”
CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tapper did not immediately respond to a series of questions, including whether or not he would be able to fairly report on the Parnell-Lamb race.
Following the Breitbart story, Tapper denied urging Parnell not to run against Lamb to former acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell.
Neither CNN or Tapper responded when asked about the denial.
The Parnell campaign declined comment when reached by Fox News.
“He boxed himself into a corner,” the source said. “He wanted him to primary a Republican instead of running against Lamb. He was looking out for his Democrat friend.”
As you know, Tapper hosts CNN’s Sunday morning political show “State of the Union” as well as his own show at 4pm daily on CNN and, according to Fox News, bills himself as a nonpartisan newsman. I’d say that ship has sailed now, but truthfully, it sailed a long time ago. Nobody’s believed Tapper is non-partisan for years.