Mark Penn, a former advisor to both Bill and Hillary Clinton, has stirred significant controversy by demanding an internal investigation into ABC News following the network's recent presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Penn alleges that the debate, moderated by ABC's David Muir and Linsey Davis, may have been "rigged" to favor Harris by fact-checking Trump more rigorously, while ignoring discrepancies in Harris' responses.
The debate, which aired earlier this week and attracted over 67 million viewers, quickly drew criticism from both sides of the political aisle for what many saw as clear bias. Penn has called for an independent investigation to examine internal communications at ABC, including texts and emails between the network's news division and the Harris campaign. He suggests that these communications could reveal potential premeditated favoritism towards Harris.
Mark Penn, former Clinton advisor, wants ABC to investigate the Harris/Trump debate – alleges it was RIGGED – with questions given beforehand. pic.twitter.com/yMhgLFOVKd
— Sara Rose 🇺🇸🌹 (@saras76) September 12, 2024
Penn’s criticism focuses on what he views as an unequal application of scrutiny. Trump, who clashed with the moderators several times during the debate, described the event as "three-on-one," claiming that the moderators’ persistent fact-checking undermined his position while offering Harris an easier path.
Penn echoed Trump’s concerns, stating that Harris benefited from what appeared to be leniency, and that such treatment may have been orchestrated behind the scenes.
Frmr. Clinton Advisor Mark Penn: ABC ‘Reps Put Finger On Scale’ In Debate, Put In Jeopardy Institutions Of Debate pic.twitter.com/kcUBj4QZyY
— Alexandra Datig | Front Page Index 🇺🇸 (@alexdatig) September 13, 2024
Fueling Penn’s accusations are claims that Harris may have been given the debate questions in advance. While no concrete evidence has emerged to confirm this, the allegations have been amplified by conservative commentators and media outlets, with some citing whistleblower reports that Harris’s team had prior knowledge of key topics that would be covered.
The potential ties between Harris and ABC News have also raised eyebrows. Harris reportedly shares a close personal relationship with Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney, which owns ABC. This connection, along with Harris and moderator Linsey Davis both being members of the same sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, has further fueled suspicions of bias. Although ABC has denied any misconduct, critics argue that these relationships warrant closer scrutiny.
Despite the controversy, reaction to Penn’s call for an investigation has been mixed. Supporters argue that such an inquiry is necessary to ensure transparency and uphold the integrity of the electoral process, particularly in a time when trust in media is at an all-time low. Skeptics, however, view it as a politically motivated attack aimed at discrediting Harris and the media in general.
As the debate over the fairness of ABC's moderation continues, Penn’s push for an investigation underscores the growing distrust in media institutions. Whether or not his call leads to an internal review at ABC, the accusations have already stirred significant debate about media bias in presidential elections and the potential for undue influence on the electoral process.
