{"id":2255153,"date":"2024-05-29T15:26:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-29T19:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rfk-jr-files-fec-complaint-claiming-cnn-biden-and-trump-engaged-in-flagrant-violations-in-planning-debates\/"},"modified":"2024-05-29T15:30:55","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T19:30:55","slug":"rfk-jr-files-fec-complaint-claiming-cnn-biden-and-trump-engaged-in-flagrant-violations-in-planning-debates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rfk-jr-files-fec-complaint-claiming-cnn-biden-and-trump-engaged-in-flagrant-violations-in-planning-debates\/","title":{"rendered":"RFK Jr. lodges FEC complaint alleging CNN, Biden, and Trump violated debate rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frfk-jr-files-fec-complaint-claiming-cnn-biden-and-trump-engaged-in-flagrant-violations-in-planning-debates%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2255153&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has lodged a\u2062 complaint with the Federal Election Commission, accusing CNN, Biden, and Trump of colluding to sideline a third-party candidate from\u200b a crucial debate. The complaint alleges a setup to\u200d favor specific \u200bparticipants, breaching campaign finance\u2062 laws. Kennedy&#8217;s\u2063 campaign cites violations of \u2063the Federal \u200cElection Campaign Act and challenges CNN&#8217;s debate qualification criteria. \u2064Kennedy met ballot access requirements but\u200c fell \u200dshort in national polls\u200c for\u200c debate inclusion. CNN denies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-based-voter-suppression-group-paid-thousands-to-voting-rights-champion-marc-elias\/\" title=\"Virginia-Based Voter Suppression Group Paid Thousands to Voting Rights \u2018Champion\u2019 Marc Elias\">collusion allegations<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/rfk-jr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/a> filed a new complaint with the Federal Election Commission alleging that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/cnn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>CNN<\/a> collaborated with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Biden<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Trump<\/a> campaigns to exclude the third-party candidate from a June 27 debate.<\/p>\n<p>In the <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.nationbuilder.com\/joinkennedy\/pages\/15312\/attachments\/original\/1716950410\/FEC-Complaint-Kennedy-Biden-Trump.pdf?1716950410\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>complaint<\/a> filed on Tuesday, Kennedy alleged the entities colluded to prepare debate criteria \u201cthat were designed to result in the selection of certain pre-chosen participants, namely Biden and Trump, in a clear breach of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/registered-foreign-agent-gave-200k-to-mcauliffe-campaign\/\" title=\"Registered Foreign Agent Gave 0K to McAuliffe Campaign\">federal campaign finance law<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Kennedy campaign pointed to a <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/05\/15\/biden-trump-presidential-debates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Washington Post<\/a> <\/em>story earlier this month that alleges Biden advisers told CNN the president would only participate in a one-on-one debate with Trump next month in Atlanta, Georgia, a factor that would exclude Kennedy.<\/p>\n<p>The story also alleges that a Trump campaign official was told by a CNN producer that \u201cRFK will not be on the stage.\u201d  <\/p>\n<p>A \u201cBiden Committee\u201d letter to the Commission on Presidential Debates pushing for a one-on-one debate with former President Donald Trump was also cited in the complaint. President Joe Biden and Trump bypassed the Commission on Presidential Debates to appear in the CNN debate next month and an ABC News debate in September.<\/p>\n<p>These actions, according to the Kennedy campaign, violate the Federal Election Campaign Act. <\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during the Libertarian National Convention at the Washington Hilton in Washington on Friday, May 24, 2024. (AP Photo\/Jose Luis Magana)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cCNN is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-debate-perry-johnson-says-he-filed-fec-complaint-against-rnc-and-fox-news\/\" title=\"Perry Johnson files complaint against RNC and Fox News in Republican debate.\">making prohibited corporate contributions<\/a> to both campaigns and the Biden Committee and the Trump Committee have accepted these prohibited corporate contributions,\u201d the complaint states.<\/p>\n<p>CNN\u2019s qualification <a href=\"https:\/\/cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com\/2024\/05\/15\/cnn-to-host-2024-election-presidential-debate-between-president-joe-biden-and-former-president-donald-j-trump-on-june-27\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>criteria<\/a> for the debate include a candidate gaining enough access to state ballots to reach the 270-electoral-vote threshold by June 20 and receiving at least 15% in four <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rnc-wont-drop-party-loyalty-pledge-requirement-despite-pushback-from-gop-candidates\/\" title=\"RNC stands firm on party loyalty pledge despite GOP candidates' opposition.\">national polls conducted<\/a> by one of at least 12 selected pollsters of registered or likely voters.<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy claimed he gained access to nine state ballots \u2014 California, Delaware, Hawaii, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah \u2014 totaling 171 electoral votes.<\/p>\n<p>But Kennedy has only met three of the four national polls needed to qualify for the debate: a <a href=\"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/poll\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Marquette Law School poll<\/a> with the third-party candidate at 17%, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/04\/28\/politics\/cnn-poll-trump-biden-matchup\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>CNN poll<\/a> with him at 16%, and a <a href=\"https:\/\/poll.qu.edu\/poll-release?releaseid=3896\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Quinnipiac poll<\/a><strong> <\/strong>with him at 16%.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner,<\/em> CNN pushed back against the collusion allegations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe law in virtually every state provides that the nominee of a state-recognized political party will be allowed ballot access without petitioning,\u201d a CNN spokesperson said. \u201cAs 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.\u00a0The mere application for ballot access does not guarantee that he will appear on the ballot in any state.\u00a0In addition, RFK, Jr. does not currently meet our polling criteria, which, like the other objective criteria, were set before issuing invitations to the debate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Biden and Trump have not technically been selected by their parties to be the presidential nominees. That will happen in July for Trump at the Republican National Convention and on June 4 for Biden during a virtual nomination process scheduled to comply with an Aug. 7 ballot deadline.<\/p>\n<p>But both candidates are the presumptive nominees after surpassing the delegate threshold and are generally considered to be on the ballot in all 50 states by the November election.  <\/p>\n<p>Kennedy\u2019s complaint asks the FEC to block the debate from happening on June 27 \u201cuntil the Parties have come into compliance with the Federal Election Campaign Act.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Eligibility for the debate opened on March 13 and closes on June 20, seven days before the debate, meaning Kennedy still has time to attempt to qualify.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n<p>Biden and Trump have attempted to downplay Kennedy\u2019s chances of spoiling the election. It is unclear whose candidacy he would hurt the most, but Democrats have created teams to counter Kennedy, fearing a 2016 reprise of Jill Stein playing spoiler to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.<\/p>\n<p>The Trump campaign did not respond to the <em>Washington Examiner\u2019s <\/em>request for comment. The Biden campaign directed the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> to the Democratic National Convention, which declined to comment.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed a complaint with the FEC, accusing CNN, Biden, and Trump of collusion to exclude a third-party candidate from a debate. He claimed they jointly set criteria favoring specific contenders. The complaint was lodged on Tuesday, alleging a scheme to manipulate the selection process<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2658,"featured_media":2255154,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24145790080430.jpg.optimal.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2255153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/AP24145790080430.jpg.optimal.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2255153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2255153"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2255153\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2255154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2255153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2255153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2255153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}