Washington: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says opponent Hillary Clinton and other Democrats “are trying to rig” the fall debates by scheduling two of the events opposite NFL games. The football league has complained to him about the debate schedule in a letter, he said.
The NFL and the Commission on Presidential Debates on Sunday rejected both of Trump’s assertions. A spokesman for the NFL said the football league didn’t send such a letter to Trump. The independent, nonpartisan commission said that no political party or campaign was consulted when the dates were selected last year.
On Friday Trump posted a tweet: “As usual, Hillary & the Dems are trying to rig the debates so 2 are up against major NFL games. Same as last time w/ Bernie. Unacceptable!” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy tweeted on Saturday: “While we’d obviously wish the Debate Commission could find another night, we did not send a letter to Mr Trump.” Following the NFL’s denial, a Trump aide said the Republican candidate “was made aware of the conflicting dates by a source close to the league.”
