RFK Jr. Files FEC Complaint Against CNN Over Debate Criteria

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against CNN, alleging that the network’s criteria for its upcoming debate unfairly favors President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Kennedy’s campaign claims that CNN is making “prohibited corporate contributions” to both campaigns by setting requirements that “only Biden and Trump would qualify” for the June 27th event.

According to CNN’s criteria, candidates must secure a spot on the ballot in states with an Electoral College vote total of at least 270 and receive 15% of the vote in four credible polls by June 20th to be invited to the debate. While Kennedy is close to meeting the polling requirement, his campaign argues that he is being held to “different” criteria than Biden and Trump, who are the presumptive nominees of state-recognized parties and will likely satisfy the ballot access requirement without petitioning once they are officially nominated.

Kennedy’s lawyer, Lorenzo Holloway, wrote in the complaint that “CNN is making prohibited corporate contributions to both campaigns and the Biden committee and the Trump committee have accepted these prohibited corporate contributions.” The campaign claims to have submitted signatures or other documentation to be included on the ballot in nine states, accounting for 171 electoral votes, but not all states have confirmed Kennedy’s inclusion.

A CNN spokesperson responded to the complaint, stating that Kennedy has not met the polling criteria and that his application does not guarantee ballot access in any state. The spokesperson emphasized that “the law in virtually every state provides that the nominee of a state-recognized political party will be allowed ballot access without petitioning,” which applies to Biden and Trump as presumptive nominees.