Sliwa Calls for Equal Time Amid Kimmel Controversy

Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa is demanding equal airtime after his Democratic rival, Zoran Mamdani, opted out of a scheduled TV town hall. Mamdani’s withdrawal was in response to the suspension of comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s show due to controversial comments he made following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Sliwa, who is known for founding the Guardian Angels, penned a letter on Tuesday asking for the same opportunity from the Town Hall as Mamdani’s campaign indicated they were prepared to reschedule “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” now that Kimmel is back on the air.

In his letter addressed to Robert Iger, CEO of Walt Disney Company, and WABC-TV president Maril Galves, Sliwa argued that the coverage surrounding Kimmel does not qualify as typical news, thereby creating a requirement for equal airtime under similar conditions. He cited both the 1934 Federal Communications Act and FCC Equal Time Rules to support his request.

“As a candidate representing a major party, I believe I am entitled to the same opportunities,” he emphasized.

Sliwa’s campaign claimed ABC had only offered them a “sit-down” interview with news anchor Bill Ritter, rather than a town hall format. According to Rob Cole, Sliwa’s representative, “This is what they provided us. There’s nothing else. And as we get closer to the election in October, that’s a concern.”

This demand follows Mamdani’s absence from the WABC-TV event, where he accused the decision makers of “trying to score political points” amid a tragedy, relating to Kimmel’s remarks about Kirk’s assassination and its connection to the “Maga” movement.

Mamdani stated that, regardless of one’s view on Kimmel, the recent developments represent a victory for free speech. He mentioned that they reached out to WABC to reschedule the town hall after learning of Kimmel’s return to mainstream broadcasting.

While there’s no new date set for Mamdani’s City Hall event, Sliwa has urged ABC to clarify the conditions surrounding Mamdani’s appearance and to ensure fair promotional opportunities for him as well.

In response, ABC-TV asserted that there were no town hall sessions arranged with Mamdani or other mayoral candidates, suggesting that there might have been a breakdown in communication.

WABC claimed they offered each campaign a chance to engage with viewers through a Q&A session with Bill Ritter.

Sliwa’s campaign was reportedly accepted by WABC-TV on Tuesday morning, though nothing has been confirmed yet. Meanwhile, representatives for independent candidate Andrew Cuomo mentioned that the station informed him that the town hall format had been replaced with a studio interview.