Debate commission co-chair defends muting microphones: 'Not a new rule' | TheHill

The Commission on Presidential Debates’ co-chair on Tuesday defended the panel’s decision to mute the presidential candidates' microphones during their opponent’s two-minute opening answers to topics. Frank Fahrenkopf told Brian Kilmeade on Fox News Radio that the commission did not change the rules of the debate with its Tuesday announcement on muting microphones. He argued that President Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s campaigns already agreed that each candidate’s opening statement on each topic would be uninterrupted. “It’s not a new rule,” Fahrenkopf said. “The campaigns agreed early on, going back to June of this year when we announced what the formats were going to be for the … debates. And they both agreed to live with it.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/521950-debate-commission-co-chair-defends-muting-microphones-not-a-new-rule