Once the hounds were on what they thought was the scent all ethics and restrictions were off.  They had ONE source and that was a felon who was never prosecuted.  He spun the raw data to suit him.  The Washington Post saw a chance to bring down the "Hated" Nixon>  they used every trick in their dirty book and succeeded in stampeding a hostile Congress.  
No one has ever checked the accuracy of Deep Throat's raw data.  The interviews and interviewees were never cross examined or the allegations tested in OPEN Court.  This was a soft coup plain and simple and the MSM encouraged the illegal leaking of FBI reports and spun the story how they wanted.  The two reporters become famous and played the hero's while engaging in a conspiracy with a deep state felon operative with his own agenda.  When viewed as a coup the entire Watergate affaire takes on a different look entirely.  Now these punks are at it again.  This time their method is known and the MSM is no longer TRUSTED or listened to.