Lawmaker accuses ABC, Harris campaign of collusion, urges disclosure of pre-debate communication

Sen. Roger Marshall is accusing ABC News of showing partiality to Vice President Kamala Harris over the network’s handling of the presidential debate, and demanding disclosure of any pre-debate messages between the two.

Mr. Marshall, Kansas Republican, wrote to ABC President Almin Karamehmedovic and Harris-Walz Campaign Manager Julie Chávez Rodriguez accusing the network of partiality, coordinating with the Democratic campaign to Ms. Harris’ and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz’s political benefit.

He demanded that ABC release all pre-debate correspondence, records and internal communications with the Harris-Walz Campaign to “prove their impartiality to the American people.”

Mr. Marshall wrote, “Recent reporting has suggested the possibility that the Harris campaign may have inappropriately influenced the proceedings to benefit Vice President Harris and undermine President Trump.”

“This was accomplished, among other tactics, via excessive fact checking of President Trump while allowing Kamala Harris to avoid answering questions directly,” he wrote. “If these and other allegations are true, the American people will continue to question the impartiality of the mainstream media.”

Mr. Marshall’s letter comes after a story circulating on social media purported that an ABC News whistleblower claims the network tipped the scales for Ms. Harris by providing her with sample questions ahead of the Sept. 10 debate, giving her a shorter podium and making her look better in the split-screen shots, among other advantages.

In a statement to The Daily Beast about these claims, ABC News did not address any of the specific allegations.

“ABC News followed the debate rules that both campaigns agreed on and which clearly state: No topics or questions will be shared in advance with campaigns or candidates,” the statement said.

Mr. Marshall described examples of the network’s liberal bias and past instances of how debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis were often more critical of Republicans, specifically Mr. Trump during the debate.

“ABC moderators Linsey Davis and David Muir repeatedly fact-checked and refuted President Trump, making it a three-on-one debate against the Republican nominee. Kamala Harris did not receive this same treatment,” Mr. Marshall wrote. “The debate moderators remained silent as Harris distorted the truth on the national stage, allowing her to dodge questions and blatantly lie about the state of the economy and U.S. involvement in foreign conflict since she took office in 2021.”

Mr. Marshall referenced Ms. Harris’ close friendship with Dana Walden, a senior executive at ABC’s parent company, the Walt Disney Company. He also mentioned large donations to Democrats over the years from Ms. Walden’s boss, Robert A. Iger, who is the chief executive of the Walt Disney Company.

The lawmaker said these relationships raised “serious concerns for viewers on impartiality and whether there was potential coordination with the Harris Campaign ahead of the debate.”

The Washington Times reached out to ABC and the Harris camp for comment.

Ms. Walden was recently asked about concerns about her relationship with Ms. Harris at the Emmy Awards and said, “I really don’t want to dignify it with much of a response.”