The reporter ran with an unsubstantiated story
First of all, if the reporter/journalist (and I hesitate to call her that) had been Conservative and the target of the accusation had been a Democrat/Liberal the story never would have been allowed to run. Furthermore, the reporter would have been ceremonially dismissed/fired and would not be working for the paper any longer along with any editor that allowed the story to run.
There is not a double standard anymore there are multiple standards these days.