The liberal media’s bloodthirsty pursuit of any evidence linking President Trump to Russia has backfired in one epic incident.

There was a blue-check pileup as an old photo released by the Russian news agency TASS was thought to reveal Maria Butina in the Oval Office meeting with President Trump last year.

The Russian national who was charged Monday is accused of conspiring with Americans in a secret Russian effort to influence American politics.

Mic reporter Emily Singer was sure excited with the discovery.

Dr. Dena Grayson, wife of former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, also tweeted but later removed the image, which is seen in this screenshot via Twitchy.

There was only one problem with the hysteria over the alleged Russian spy in the Oval Office.

OK all, this may be Cari Lutkins from the NSC. I may delete this tweet… https://t.co/DI0zpju68I — Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) July 17, 2018

I’ve deleted the tweet. I cannot confirm that it is Butina and may be an NSC staffer. https://t.co/DIm1grRI9w — Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) July 17, 2018

Singer’s deleted tweet was captured before it disappeared.

Where did you get the information? Why did you think it was credible? https://t.co/qnIxhTuIhT — Jim Treacher (@jtLOL) July 17, 2018

Cari Grace Lutkins of the National Security Council was revealed as the mystery woman.

Looks like Cari Grace Lutkins, who joined the NSC in 2017. pic.twitter.com/Bb4H8Oz5oU — Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) July 17, 2018

This is Maria Butina. pic.twitter.com/PK5LaSntQj — Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) July 17, 2018

This photo is going around: That is not alleged Russian spy Maria Butina in the Oval Office With Trump. It’s an NSC staffer, a NSC source tells BuzzFeed News. pic.twitter.com/k1pDeIBZiK — Tom Namako (@TomNamako) July 17, 2018

A fmr WH official tells me he thinks the person in this NYT photo is Cari Lutkins, the WH’s deputy director of events, who plans logistics for events like these pic.twitter.com/NZJ0z7IUqt — Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) July 17, 2018

A blue check reporter tweeting and being re-tweeted with false information, and it didn’t take long for many others to grab the torches and pitchforks.

The damage continued to spread even though the claim was debunked several times, and Singer’s tweet was deleted.

Why in the hell is this foreign agent spy Mariia Butina in the White House!! pic.twitter.com/kdTG2W5GRv — Robert Young (@Eagle_eye12345) July 17, 2018

Cari Lutkins- White House Staffer I thought the same at first BUT- side by side photos have been posted. There’s a difference. Butina is not in this photo. Stop spreading this. — Marci Rae ☘????????????♏ (@Bluepuppy) July 17, 2018

But for some liberals, all the proof in the world will never be enough.

All redheads are part of the same insidious conspiracy against humanity so yes, yes of course that unidentified woman in the White House is the same as the Russian spy. Even if they’re different people, they are joined by the same evil psychic link. — Jeff B. (@EsotericCD) July 17, 2018

That retraction won’t get nearly the attention her original stupid tweet did. The dumb clods who follow her must be fed media malpractice daily to keep their peak TDS raging ? — DeniseVB (@blogho) July 17, 2018

I screengrabbed it right before she deleted it, and it was up to 4.6K RTs. People want to believe. https://t.co/dyOuXjvc7q — Jim Treacher (@jtLOL) July 17, 2018

“The lesson here is — eh, there is no lesson. No one learns lessons anymore.” https://t.co/HIK5MTTrCB — Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) July 17, 2018

When did making sure you actually have the story become an afterthought in journalism? https://t.co/hERplVLSya — Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) July 17, 2018

Media: There’s no reason for anyone to hate us Senior political reporter for Mic: Hold my beer pic.twitter.com/EXrAAExlTZ — Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) July 17, 2018

I thought this was a photoshop, but it’s not. This is Maria Butina — arrested for being a Russian spy — in the Oval Office with Trump. pic.twitter.com/6Cvd7uaH4y — Kate Hyde (@KateHydeNY) July 17, 2018

Fact checking in the age of Twitter consists of aiming for the send button. — Sanjay Mehta ?? (@sanjaymehta) July 17, 2018

That’s old MSM. New MSM is get it out, get the clicks, check later. — TheOtherBill (@TheOtherBill2) July 17, 2018