RFK Jr. to Hold Debate Counterprogramming

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr will be hosting his own alternative programming as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump hold their debate Thursday on CNN.

Kennedy, who was not invited to Thursday night's debate, will be hosting his own debate, Bobby Kennedy III, his son, said.

"Our plan is to hold our own debate. I'm not gonna say exactly how we're gonna do it, but we'll have the other two candidates up there as well, say what they say live, and we're gonna give my dad a chance to respond live," Kennedy III said while standing in front of a cardboard cutout of his father.

Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy's running mate, promised a few surprises for Thursday's programing.

"Stay tuned," Shanahan said.

Kennedy has said CNN staff could face jail for hosting the debate, saying it violates campaign finance laws.

According to CNN's rules to be included for the first debate Thursday in Atlanta, Kennedy needed 15% support in four approved national polls; he met those criteria in three polls. Second, he needed to be on the ballot in enough states to win 270 votes in the Electoral College; he would currently reach less than 100.

Kennedy argued that since Biden and Trump have not officially been nominated by their respective parties, they are also not on enough ballots to qualify for the debate.

"This means CNN, and every member of CNN who is participating in planning, executing, and holding this debate, is at risk of prosecution, as happened to Michael Cohen, for violating campaign finance laws," Kennedy said in a filing with the Federal Election Commission. "This risk is now acute given that any further violation would be knowing and willful, and thus could carry with it serious jail time."

Kennedy has petitioned to appear on the ballot in 18 states, including California, Oklahoma, Michigan, North Carolina, Iowa, Nebraska, Hawaii, Utah, Idaho, New York, New Hampshire, and Nevada, according to the campaign.