A federal judge is weighing whether to force a Kentucky public broadcaster to include a Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate in its televised debate Monday between Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell and Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes.
U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove said it gives him pause that Kentucky Educational Television changed the criteria for participating in the debate in the middle of the election cycle. But he also said he does not see anything in First Amendment case law that requires KET to include all viewpoints.
Attorneys for Libertarian candidate David Patterson argued KET officials were trying to keep Patterson out of the debate by changing the criteria and not telling Patterson about it.
Attorneys for KET argued the criteria is objective and said there was no proof KET changed the criteria to specifically exclude Patterson.
