#CNN’s Jake Tapper tried to dissuade GOP candidate running against House Dem

CNN’s Jake Tapper’s reached out to a GOP candidate in a Pennsylvania House race to suggest that he might have better luck running in a “safer R district,” instead of against first-term Democratic congressman Connor Lamb, according to a report Thursday.

The anchor of “The Lead with Jake Tapper” sent a Twitter message to Sean Parnell, a US Army combat veteran, who is challenging Rep. Conor Lamb in the Pittsburgh suburbs, Fox News reported.

“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, according to Fox News, which had obtained the Twitter direct message.

It had been sent to Parnell, who spoke at the Republican National Convention, on Nov. 8, 2019, just days after he announced he was mounting a challenge to the first-term Democrat, Fox News reported, citing a source.

“He wanted him to primary a Republican instead of running against Lamb. He was looking out for his Democrat friend,” the source told Fox News.

The source wondered how many other GOP candidates Tapper, who also hosts Sunday’s “State of the Union” on CNN, contacted and questioned whether he’ll be allowed to report on the Pennsylvania House race between Parnell and Lamb.

“CNN is expert 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 reported.

CNN did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.

The New York Post also reached out for comment.

But former White House acting director of national intelligence Ric Grenell showed Tapper denying asking Parnell not to run against Lamb.

“I just asked @jaketapper ‘Is it true you asked Sean Parnell to not run against Conor Lamb?’”

“He told me ‘nope,’” Grenell wrote on Twitter Sunday. “So there is his answer.”

Grenell then posted a screenshot of his conversation with Tapper.