RFK Jr files complaint against CNN, Trump and Biden campaigns over alleged FEC debate violations

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) on Tuesday against CNN and the Biden and Trump presidential campaigns.

Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden are expected to partake in a debate next month, which will be hosted by CNN.

The lawsuit is related to CNN's debate rules, which the presidential hopeful claims violated the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) by requiring Kennedy to meet different criteria than what is required for Biden, and Trump.

Media organizations that host debates are not permitted to pre-select candidates that may participate, and must use “pre-established” and “objective” criteria to determine who is eligible.

“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 in a statement shared with Just The News.

In order to qualify for the debate, a candidate "must appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency prior to the eligibility deadline, agree to accept the rules and format of the debate; and receive at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet CNN’s standards for reporting," according to CNN.

The deadline to reach the electoral vote threshold is June 20, and the Kennedy campaign said it has already submitted the necessary signatures to the respective Secretary of State offices in nine states, which make up 171 electoral votes. Kennedy has also already scored two qualifying polls in April.

“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, in a clear breach of federal campaign finance law," attorneys for Kennedy said in the complaint.

Kennedy has requested that the FEC “enjoin" both campaigns from holding the presidential debate until the parties come into compliance with the FECA. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.