RFK Jr. information FEC grievance over June 27 presidential debate standards

RFK Jr.’s marketing campaign has filed a grievance with the Federal Election Fee that accuses CNN, President Biden, former President Donald Trump and their campaigns of violating federal election legislation. 

The Kennedy marketing campaign claims CNN is approaching the controversy standards in another way for Kennedy, an unbiased candidate, than for Trump and Mr. Biden, the presumptive nominees of their respective events. CNN is holding the primary presidential debate in Atlanta on June 27, earlier than both the Democratic Celebration or the Republican Celebration maintain their conventions to formalize their nominees. The Kennedy marketing campaign is alleging the controversy is an unlawful marketing campaign contribution to each Mr. Biden and Trump. 

“CNN is making prohibited company contributions to each campaigns and the Biden committee and the Trump committee have accepted these prohibited company contributions,” the grievance says. 

CNN’s debate standards says a candidate should seem on a ample variety of state ballots to achieve the 270 threshold for the presidency, and obtain a minimum of 15% in 4 main nationwide polls by June 20. Kennedy has not but met the polling standards or the poll look standards. 

Nonetheless, the Kennedy marketing campaign argues that, since neither Trump nor Mr. Biden has been formally nominated, they are not eligible for any electoral votes, whereas Kennedy says he might qualify in a handful of states. Candidates nonetheless have a number of weeks to fulfill the qualification threshold. 

“By demanding our marketing campaign meet totally different standards to take part within the debate than Presidents Biden and Trump, CNN’s debate violates FEC legislation and is a big prohibited company contribution to each the Biden and Trump campaigns,” Kennedy mentioned.

The Kennedy marketing campaign is asking the FEC to seek out the events in violation of the Federal Election Marketing campaign Act, and cease them from collaborating within the debate for now. 

CNN, nonetheless, defended their qualification guidelines. 

“The legislation in nearly each state supplies that the nominee of a state-recognized political celebration shall be allowed poll entry with out petitioning,” a CNN spokesperson mentioned. “Because the presumptive nominees of their events each Biden and Trump will fulfill this requirement. As an unbiased candidate, below relevant legal guidelines RFK, Jr. doesn’t. The mere utility for poll entry doesn’t assure that he’ll seem on the poll in any state. As well as, RFK, Jr. doesn’t at the moment meet our polling standards, which, like the opposite goal standards, have been set earlier than issuing invites to the controversy.”

Each the Biden and Trump campaigns have additionally agreed to debate on ABC on Sept. 10. The Biden marketing campaign has accepted CBS Information’ invitation for a vice-presidential debate this summer time, though the Trump marketing campaign has but to reply.