Related Articles
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is accusing former President Trump and President Biden of colluding with CNN and violating the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) in a letter from Tuesday.
“The violations occurred when, based on the available evidence, CNN colluded with the Biden committee and the Trump committee to schedule and did schedule a debate with criteria that were designed to result in the selection of certain pre-chosen participants, namely Biden and Trump,” the letter, filed by Attorney Lorenzo Holloway, claims.
The alleged collusion between Biden, Trump and CNN puts the parties “in a clear breach of federal campaign finance law,” the letter explains.
Former President Trump, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and President Biden. (Getty Images)
Trump and Biden agreed in May to a debate hosted by CNN on June 27. The second debate, scheduled for Sept. 10, is set to be hosted by ABC.
Kennedy also spoke out directly about the legal complaint against his political opponents in a campaign press release.
“By demanding our campaign meet different criteria to participate in the debate than Presidents Biden and Trump, CNN’s debate violates FEC law and is a large prohibited corporate contribution to both the Biden and Trump campaigns,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy’s letter argues that CNN “admitted” that it had “informal conversations'” about the presidential debate with the Biden and Trump campaigns and claims that is evidence of collusion between the network and the two frontrunners in the presidential race.
Because both Biden and Trump have not been officially nominated by their respective political parties, Kennedy argues that “neither President Biden nor Mr. Trump is on any state ballot as the presidential candidate of their respective parties.”
TRUMP ACCEPTS BIDEN OFFER TO DEBATE HIM IN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER
CNN told Fox News Digital in a statement that RFK Jr. does not “currently meet” the polling criteria necessary for a debate invitation. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
“Despite this, CNN has publicly cleared them both for participation in the debate and has represented to Candidate Kennedy that he does not satisfy this criterion, and, therefore, cannot participate in the debate,” the letter continues.
CNN told Fox News Digital in a statement that RFK Jr. does not “currently meet” the polling criteria necessary for a debate invitation.
“The law in virtually every state provides that the nominee of a state-recognized political party will be allowed ballot access without petitioning,” a CNN spokesperson said in a statement.
“As the presumptive nominees of their parties both Biden and Trump will satisfy this requirement. As an independent candidate, under applicable laws RFK, Jr. does not,”the statement reads. “The mere application for ballot access does not guarantee that he will appear on the ballot in any state.”
Kennedy still technically has time to qualify for the debate. The window for eligibility closes one full week before the June 27 debate date.
Trump campaign National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital in a statement that Biden “does not want” Kennedy in the debates because both candidates are on the “far-left.”
“He’s also sharper and far more intelligent than Joe, all making for a bad combination of ingredients,” Leavitt said of Kennedy. “I don’t care if Junior joins the Debate, but right now his polling numbers are very low, he is not properly qualified in the States, and he seems to be on a downward path. Junior needs more than his name to get on the ‘stage!’”
Fox News Digital also reached out to the Biden campaign for comment but has yet to receive a response.
Jeffrey Clark is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. He has previously served as a speechwriter for a cabinet secretary and as a Fulbright teacher in South Korea. Jeffrey graduated from the University of Iowa in 2019 with a degree in English and History.
Story tips can be sent to jeffrey.clark@fox.com.
