Former congressman criticizes CNN and Anderson Cooper for spreading false claims

A former Republican congressman fired back at Anderson Cooper on Monday night after the CNN anchor sharply criticized former President Donald Trump for spreading claims of election fraud – arguing that the left-leaning broadcaster had itself spread false claims.

Former Republican Rep. Scott Taylor of Virginia argued that millions of Americans were “struggling” with allegations of mail-in voting fraud in the 2020 election and were worried about the results in November.

“They want secure elections just like everyone else, and the former president underscores that,” Taylor said.

“Any time you start your argument with 'There are people who believe that,' it weakens your argument. I mean, it's like classic high school debates,” Cooper argued.

“Anderson, with all due respect, with all due respect, that would be the same with the Steele dossier, Hunter Biden's laptop, the rejection of the lab leak theory, Jussie Smollett and so on and so forth,” Taylor replied.

“Be honest, you didn't have the facts right on this network, did you? And people believe things like that. With all due respect.”

CNN was criticized for suppressing The Post's front-page story about Hunter Biden's laptop scandal.

CNN had reported that the FBI was investigating claims that the laptop scandal was a Russian disinformation campaign against Joe Biden.

Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois – who served on the select committee on Jan. 6 and voted to impeach Trump – argued that CNN's coverage of Hunter Biden's laptop and other issues was “totally different” because it was not an attempt to “overturn an election.”

“Oh really, Adam? This 'Russia, Russia' and Hunter Biden's laptop wasn't an attempt to influence the election?” Taylor said. “Of course it was, you know that.”

The dispute revolved around a Truth Social post by former President Donald Trump on Sunday.

“An interview by Tucker Carlson with an election expert suggests that 20% of Pennsylvania's mail-in ballots are fraudulent,” Trump wrote. “We will WIN Pennsylvania by a large margin unless the Democrats are allowed to CHEAT.”

Cooper said Trump “lied” because there was “no evidence” of election fraud.

“Look, like I said, there are a lot of irregularities in the 2020 election that have never been seen before, right? There are people who have a problem with that,” Taylor said.

Cooper interrupted the former congressman and asked about specific irregularities.

“Sure, the suspension of state laws that didn't exist before COVID, mailboxes that aren't secure,” Taylor said. “There are a lot of things that changed in 2020 that are still around today.”

Taylor said he ran for re-election in 2020 and lost, but there were many other people “who had problems with the way 2020 was handled.”

“There are people at the dinner table who believe the Earth is flat,” Cooper said. “That doesn't make it real.”

“What I just told you are facts,” Taylor replied.