Wow, just....wow.
What we are seeing here is the Left's version of snake handling, faith healing religious fundamentalism. Like the extreme religious fundies, Mapes wants to believe this story so badly that she has wilfully suspended all reason.
It's the Algier Hiss syndrome. Long after every sensible person of whatever political stripe concluded he had lied, Hiss and a group of deluded free-Mumia types continued to believe he was/is innocent. They still do.