Tapper, 53, got his positive test at the network’s Washington bureau on Monday, May 9, just ahead of his regular show at 4 pm.
At least two staffers told The Daily Beast he angered colleagues by not going home immediately.
“This happened in the same week that the country was mourning the millionth death due to COVID, which Jake covered on his show,” one staffer declared.
Tapper was replaced by Dana Bash on Tuesday yet returned from what seemed to be a home studio on Wednesday.
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The Daily Beast also accused Tapper of having CNN PR “working overtime” to cover for him.
The network contradicted that account, announcing that Tapper followed the company’s COVID-19 protocols “to the letter.”
“Testing is voluntary to enter our offices. It is mandatory to enter the studios. He tested shortly before his show,” a network spokesperson stated.
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“When he was notified of the positive result, he asked CNN execs what to do and then followed it to the letter—he double-masked and isolated, did the show solo in a flash studio (single-person enclosed room) and went home immediately after.”
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“Everyone on The Lead team was notified during their pre-show call that day,” the spokesperson said. “Jake had only been in direct contact with a few others, who were also notified.”
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Tapper, who has been at CNN since 2012, was one of many candidates competing for the position after Chris Cuomo’s departure as the network scrambles to find his replacement.
The network dismissed Cuomo, 51, for defending his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, against many sexual harassment charges. Chris Cuomo has since argued that CNN President Jeff Zucker knew about the arrangement and is preparing to sue the network for the $18 million left on his contract.
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An insider source showed that the position would most likely go to Taper this week.
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“It’s Jake — by a long stretch,” the source told Radar. “Jake star has been on the rise for a long time.”
“He is the logical choice, but if he takes over, it will have a cascading effect because Jake’s unlikely to be able to continue State of the Union and remain lead DC anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent. In short, this really has screwed with CNN’s programming line-up.”
“The only saving grace is that it is the end of the year and network bosses can position 2022 as a revamped line-up.”
CNN has yet to substitute Cuomo in his time slot officially.
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