Tue Sep 17 06:00:00 UTC 2024: ## ABC Debate Accused of Bias: Whistleblower Affidavit Claims Harris Campaign Received Advance Questions
A whistleblower affidavit alleging bias in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris during the September 2020 vice presidential debate has been obtained by attorney and conservative activist, Dan Penn. Penn intends to release the affidavit soon, which he claims reveals that the Harris campaign was given sample questions, nearly identical to those asked during the debate. The affidavit also states that assurances were given to Harris that she would not be fact-checked, while Donald Trump would be subject to scrutiny.
Penn argues that the debate’s moderators displayed clear bias in favor of Harris, repeatedly pressing Trump with follow-up questions while allowing Harris to avoid answering inquiries. The same pattern was observed in the fact-checking process, with Trump being repeatedly challenged on his statements while Harris was not held accountable for any misrepresentations.
Penn advocates for a “full internal investigation” into the matter, calling for an independent law firm to review ABC News internal communications. He believes the investigation should ascertain the extent to which ABC planned to “fact-check just one candidate and, in effect, rig the outcome of this debate.”
Penn points out that the moderators’ failure to challenge Harris on her statements, like her claims about Charlottesville, may have significantly affected the debate’s outcome. He argues that such bias undermines the integrity of debates and disservices American voters.
Further concerns have been raised about the co-moderator Linsey Davis’s sorority affiliation with Harris and the connections between Harris and Dana Walden, co-chairman of ABC News owner Disney. Walden is reportedly Harris’s neighbor and has donated to her political campaigns.
Trump himself had previously expressed suspicion about Harris’s familiarity with the debate questions, suggesting she may have been privy to the topics in advance, which contradicts the rules prohibiting such practices.
The debate, watched by a record 67 million viewers, was the first and likely the last between Trump and Harris. While Harris has expressed interest in a rematch, Trump has declined, suggesting her desire for a rematch indicates his dominance in the first debate.
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