(The Center Square) – An equal time rules violation complaint has been filed by a law firm though it wasn’t hired to represent the candidate it says was wronged in North Carolina’s redrawn 1st Congressional District Republican primary race.
The Van Horn Law Firm in Raleigh, not affiliated with candidate Ashley-Nicole Russell, made the filing with the Federal Communications Commission. Russell was the only one of five candidates excluded from a Feb. 19 debate hosted by WNCT of Greenville and WNCN, known also as CBS17, of Raleigh.
Those that participated included Laurie Buckhout, Asa Buck, state Sen. Bobby Hanig and Eric Rouse.
According to published reports citing a release from the law firm, the FCC definition of “bona fide” debate was not met and instead was a “structured interview format” that required meeting equal time rules.
Russell was part of a public forum hosted by WNCT, CBS17 and Inner Banks Media earlier in February. Nexstar Media, owner of WNCT and CBS17, sponsored a poll conducted by Emerson College Polling over the three days immediately following that night’s forum.
The results of 500 likely Republican voters, with margin of error of +/- 4.3%, were led by Buckhout (26%) and Buck (22%). Hanig (11%) was next, followed by Rouse (5%) and Russell (1%) – the latter two a statistical tie for polling purposes given the margin of error in the poll.
Nexstar chose those with at least 5%.
Russell confirmed to the Carteret County Times-News of Morehead City she did not initiate the report or hire the law firm filing the complaint.
