A GOP campaign arm said on Sunday that former Democratic aide Jake Tapper, now an anchor for CNN, may be “meddling” in some congressional contests, citing an anonymously sourced report on Tapper intervening in a closely-watched race in Pennsylvania.
The National Republican Congressional Committee shared a story from Breitbart News that said Tapper, 51, tried convincing Sean Parnell, the Republican nominee for Pennsylvanias 17th Congressional District, to run in a different district.
The story cited unnamed sources.
“So how many other districts has @jaketapper pulled this crap with? Why is CNN meddling in House swing races? This is absurd,” the committee said.
A CNN spokesman didnt return a request for comment, nor did Parnells campaign.
According to the story, sources familiar with Tappers actions claimed he used text messages, Twitter direct messages, and phone calls to lobby Parnell to choose a different district to run in.
Parnell is challenging first-time Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Penn.). Both are military veterans.
Richard Grenell, an advisor to the Republican National Committee and former acting director of national intelligence, campaigned at a rally for Parnell on Sunday.
Grenell said Tapper messaged him and said he didnt ask Parnell to not run against Lamb.
