They knew. They are leftists and so they were going with "The leftist political ends justifies any and every possible means' ideological philosophy of modern 'journalism'. That is; they were working FOR the Dem Party.
NEVER FORGET THEIR LIES; “…IN REALITY, A) A LOT OF THE DOSSIER HAS PROVEN TO BE TRUE”; “THE PRESIDENT WAS COMPROMISED BY A HOSTILE FOREIGN GOVERNMENT. FULL STOP.”