A Republican lawmaker has launched an inquiry into potential bias during a recent presidential debate.
According to Fox News, Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas has demanded ABC News disclose any communications with Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign prior to last week's debate.
The senator alleges that the network displayed a clear bias against former President Donald Trump during the event.
Marshall expressed concerns about the debate's fairness in a letter addressed to ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic and Harris' campaign manager, Julie Chávez Rodriguez. He cited what he perceived as a "three-on-one" attack against Trump, referencing the two moderators and Vice President Harris.
Marshall's letter suggests that recent reports have raised questions about potential improper influence from the Harris campaign on the debate proceedings. The senator argues that such allegations, if true, would further erode public trust in mainstream media.
The Kansas lawmaker is requesting that ABC News release all texts and emails related to the debate to dispel any concerns about advance coordination. This demand comes in the wake of accusations of bias against moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis, as well as ABC News as a whole.
Marshall's letter also points to polling data indicating widespread public distrust in mainstream press outlets. He further notes the friendship between Harris and top Disney executive Dana Walden, who has made donations to the Vice President and other Democratic candidates.
Senator Marshall emphasized the importance of transparency in his letter, stating that the American people deserve a full accounting of whether ABC News coordinated with the Harris campaign to influence the debate's questions and fact-checking in favor of the Vice President.
The letter sets a deadline of September 27 for ABC News to respond to the request. However, it's important to note that the senator's demand does not carry any legal authority to compel the network to turn over documents.
ABC News has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter, leaving questions about potential coordination unanswered for the time being.
Following the debate, former President Trump suggested at a rally in Las Vegas that Harris may have obtained the questions in advance. He also claimed, without evidence, that the Vice President might have worn an earpiece during the event.
Other Republican figures have joined in criticizing ABC News's handling of the debate. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas accused the network of effectively joining the Harris campaign by failing to correct a false statement made by the Vice President during the debate.
Senator Roger Marshall demanded that ABC News release any communications with the Kamala Harris campaign prior to the recent presidential debate. The Republican lawmaker alleges bias against former President Trump and calls for transparency from the mainstream media. Marshall's letter sets a September 27 deadline for a response, though it lacks legal authority to compel document release.
