Over time, Democrats have perfected the technique of "poisoning the well". Whenever they are caught doing what Democrats do (i.e.: lying, cheating, stealing, etc.) they not only deny the charges but instantly question the motives and veracity of their accusers and use their captive news media to make that the story instead of the original offenses.
In this way, political smears and hit jobs are falsely reported as "cover-ups" by their innocent victims. Controlling the narrative and defining the language are staples of Progressive activism.