RFK Jr. files FEC complaint over CNN debate rules

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) about CNN’s debate rules, alleging that the network “colluded” with the campaigns of President Biden and former President Trump to bar him from the first presidential debate scheduled for June.

Kennedy’s lawsuit, filed Wednesday, alleges that CNN “collectively” worked with Trump, Biden and their campaigns in “flagrant” violations of federal election campaign law by denying independent candidates an appearance at the June 27 debate.

“Based on the available evidence, the violations occurred when CNN conspired with the Biden Committee and the Trump Committee to schedule, and did schedule, the debates with criteria designed to select certain pre-selected participants, namely Biden and Trump, in a clear violation of federal campaign finance law,” Lorenzo Holloway, an attorney for the independent candidates, wrote in a complaint to Federal Election Commission Acting General Counsel Lisa J. Stevenson.

“CNN has made prohibited corporate contributions to both campaigns, and the Biden and Trump committees have received these prohibited corporate contributions,” he added.

Earlier this month, Trump and Biden agreed to hold two debates, one hosted by CNN and the other by ABC, scheduled for September. The deal also bypassed the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has hosted presidential debates since 1988.

CNN said the complaint was unfounded because Kennedy does not currently meet the network’s polling criteria and does not yet have the votes needed to get into the White House.

“Virtually every state’s laws provide that candidates representing state-certified parties are eligible to appear on the ballot without a petition,” a CNN spokesperson said in a statement.

“Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump, as the presumptive nominees of their respective parties, would meet this requirement,” the spokesperson said. “As an independent candidate, Mr. RFK Jr. does not meet the requirement under applicable law.”

“Applying to appear on the ballot alone is not a guarantee that he will appear on the ballot in any state. Further, RFK Jr. does not currently meet our voting criteria, which were established prior to issuing debate invitations, as well as other objective criteria,” a CNN spokesperson said.

CNN stated A presidential candidate must receive at least 15 percent support in four national polls and appear on the ballot in enough states to secure the minimum 270 votes needed to win the Electoral College.

The Kennedy campaign said it has submitted signatures to appear on the ballot in nine states, recently adding New York, which has 28 electoral votes.