The co-founder of the Commission on Presidential Debates, Frank Fahrenkopf, has alleged that President Joe Biden’s campaign pressured CNN to keep Robert F Kennedy Jr. out of the June 27 debate. Fahrenkopf hinted that Kennedy could potentially take legal action based on a violation of Federal Election Commission rules. Kennedy, a third-party candidate, entered the race as an independent after withdrawing from the Democratic primary against Biden. Some have labeled him a “spoiler” for Biden, suggesting that he could draw votes away from former President Donald Trump.
Both Trump and Biden have intensified their criticism of Kennedy in recent months. Kennedy had previously announced his intention to meet the criteria for participation in the CNN debate before the June 20 deadline, although he currently does not meet CNN’s requirements based on polling and ballot access. Fahrenkopf mentioned that Kennedy may explore joining the Libertarian Party as its nominee to gain ballot access in all states. However, he will still need to meet the 15% polling threshold to qualify for the debate.
CNN declined to comment on Fahrenkopf’s claims, and Kennedy’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Both Biden and Trump have opted for independent debates instead of the CPD-sponsored ones. Fox News has requested to host a vice presidential debate, but it is uncertain if Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, will be included. The Truth Voices reached out to the Biden campaign but did not receive a response.
