EXCLUSIVE: 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.
CNN's Jake Tapper tried to convince Republican Sean Parnell not to run against incumbent Democrat Rep. Conor Lamb, according to a Twitter direct message obtained by Fox News.(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for WarnerMedia)
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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.
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.
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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.
It is unclear if CNN will allow Tapper to report on the race for Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district going forward.
“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.”
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Tapper, who bills himself as a nonpartisan newsman, anchors CNN’s weekday newscast “The Lead With Jake Tapper” and Sunday morning's “State of the Union” political program. The source wondered how many Republicans have nixed the idea of running for a specific public office because the influential Tapper talked them out of it over the years.
“CNN is experts at smearing people, you’ve got their Sunday morning anchor telling you what you should or shouldn’t do... there are other candidates who would be like, ‘Alright, I don’t need CNN coming after me,’” the source said.
Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.