So now Kurt Bardella is an “impostor.” First, the recently fired spokesman to Oversight and Government Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is a flack who leaked journo emails. But as of Sunday, he’s much worse.

At least according to The Daily Beast Washington Bureau Chief Howard Kurtz, who in early January issued a correction to a story some six weeks after he knew the truth. Kurtz claimed he thought he was talking by phone to Issa. Nowhere in that correction does he accuse Bardella of anything, but claims his understanding of who he was talking with was “unambiguous.” On CNN’s “Reliable Sources” on Sunday, Kurtz’s  language took a sharp turn.

“I had my own run-in with Bardella,” Kurtz acknowledged during an interview with Politico‘s Editor-in-Chief John Harris, whose reporters, Jake Sherman and Marin Cogan, first broke the story last week that Bardella had shared emails from reporters to NYT‘s Mark Leibovich. “I’d asked for an interview with Darrell Issa. He called and impersonated the congressman.”

Kurtz adds this non-regret regret in a tone fitting for someone who stole a lollipop: “And then I made a serious mistake for which I have apologized in waiting weeks to correct after this bizarre situation. I’ve never been in a situation like that.”

As in his correction on Jan. 13, Kurtz said he addressed Bardella as “Congressman” and even wrote a follow-up note thanking the aide for getting him in touch with Issa so quickly. Bardella, Kurtz says, never once corrected him.

Considerations not to be overlooked: Bardella does not sound like a 57-year-old committee chairman. Issa is the voice behind the famed Viper car alarm: “PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR. PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR.” Bardella did not respond to an email request for comment.

Note to Kurtz: How about STEPPING AWAY FROM THE AIDE? Now that Bardella has fallen from Capitol Hill grace, somehow it’s now acceptable to call the ex-aide an “impostor.”

Sorry, Howie, we’re not buying it.