So here's the thing: We already knew CNN host Jake Tapper has been a shameless hack throughout both of President Donald Trump's terms, right? 

And that was before he co-wrote his controversial book, "Original Sin," and then promptly proceeded to trot to as many interviews as fast as he could to shamelessly shill for the book, only to be further humiliated — multiple times — for absurdly attempting to absolve himself of duplicitousness in the failed cover-up of former President Joe Biden's cognitive decline.

Welp, shameless Jake continued to dig his humiliating hole even deeper on Thursday's episode of his ridiculous show "The Lead"; this time by twice refusing to fact-check Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth (IL) as she contradicted the account of Tapper’s CNN colleague, with whom he spoke just minutes prior to Duckworth's appearance, about far-left Sen. Alex Padilla's (CA) stunt during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference. Padilla rushed into the room and approached DHS Secretary Noem as she spoke. 

Padilla then pretended to fight against removal from the room, and was ultimately forced to the ground and handcuffed. 

Early in the program, Tapper spoke with CNN correspondent Stephanie Elam, who attended the press conference, to clarify the sequence of events. 

Elam reported that Noem had already begun speaking when Padilla entered the room and began shouting at her. It was only after her security team intervened and started to escort him out that Padilla identified himself—though notably, he did so without providing the proper credentials.

Elam told Tapper:

Now, her press conference had started. She was in the middle of talking when he did just start talking. And that's the other key point. He started talking first. And when he started talking, he took a couple of steps. It was not a lunge as it's been characterized. And then there were immediately hands on him from her detailed people pushing him away and back and moving him away from – then during that time, is when he identified himself. So, he did not identify himself first when he was asking the question and interrupting her.

Tapper later brought on Duckworth — who I should note wasn't at the press conference — to get the histrionic response to Padilla's performative theatrics and subsequent handcuffing. During their conversation, Duckworth twice gave a fictitious chronology of the events (lied herself silly) that didn’t correspond with what CNN's own reporter had just told Tapper. 

Here's Duckworth:

Well, just watch the video. I mean, within the first two seconds of him standing up, he identified himself as “I'm Senator Alex Padilla.” He identifies exactly who he is. He tries to ask a question. He tries to do what every American has the right to do, which is your First Amendment rights. And what we see the response is, is really, you know, a pure, un-American authoritarianism. And it should scare us all, because if they can do this to a U.S. senator, they can do this to the average American.

Please, Ms. Duckworth. 

In addition to Duckworth's story about Padilla not adding up, no American has a "right" to interrupt a press conference and start shouting at the speaker — particular at a government official. Tammy might want to reread the First Amendment — assuming she's ever read it.

Tapper asked Duckworth if, in her view, Padilla's actions could have been interpreted by security guards as a risk. Remember, as multiple credible reports said, security — and likely most of the people in the room — had no idea who the junior senator from California was. 

ALSO CHECK OUT: Watch: Kristi Noem Levels Alex Padilla With Facts After He Issues a Statement

Hot Takes: Dems/Media Losing Their Minds Over Padilla Incident, Break Out the Crocodile Tears

Duckworth continued to spew (lie):

No. He was a long way from the stage. He – Look, he stood up and the first thing he said was, “I am Alex, I am U.S. Senator, I'm U.S. Senator Alex Padilla.” That is clear who he is. They should have let him speak. And frankly, he was doing his job as a U.S. Senator.

Look, Donald Trump is forcing the American military on American citizens. He's trying to intimidate American citizens. And he's doing and what they're doing now with DHS at this press conference is, number one, forcing a U.S. senator to the ground after he identified himself, after he was just trying to ask a question. And now they're trying to gaslight the American people and blatantly lying about what happened when there's video of it.

And Tapper, being the consummate [ahem] journalist he is, boldly responded: "Yeah." 

Show over. 

The question is, why is Tapper still employed by CNN, AKA "The Most Trusted Name in News"?

Editor's Note: The mainstream media continues to deflect, gaslight, spin, and lie.  

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