Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s presidential campaign contacted top television anchors and networks on Sunday to “demand” that Rudolph W. Giuliani, President Trump’s personal lawyer, be kept off the air because of what they called his misleading comments about the Biden family and Ukraine.
“We are writing today with grave concern that you continue to book Rudy Giuliani on your air to spread false, debunked conspiracy theories on behalf of Donald Trump,” a pair of top Biden campaign advisers, Anita Dunn and Kate Bedingfield, wrote in the letter.
“Giving Rudy Giuliani valuable time on your air to push these lies in the first place is a disservice to your audience and a disservice to journalism,” the advisers wrote. A copy of the letter was obtained by The New York Times.
The note was sent to executives and top political anchors at ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC, including interviewers like Jake Tapper, Chuck Todd and Chris Wallace.
Mr. Giuliani could not immediately be reached on Sunday for comment.
Mr. Giuliani has been a ubiquitous presence on television news in recent days, including several appearances on Sunday. Advocating on Mr. Trump’s behalf, Mr. Giuliani has repeatedly alleged that Mr. Biden, while serving as vice president, intervened in Ukraine to assist his son Hunter Biden’s business interests. No evidence has surfaced that Mr. Biden intentionally tried to help his son in Ukraine.
The Biden campaign argued that Mr. Giuliani’s appearances on television have allowed him to mislead the viewing public.
As Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, however, Mr. Giuliani remains a highly newsworthy figure and a coveted booking for television journalists covering the burgeoning impeachment inquiry, which centers on Mr. Trump’s attempts to seek information on Mr. Biden’s dealings in Ukraine.
Ms. Dunn is a senior adviser to Mr. Biden’s campaign. Ms. Bedingfield is his deputy campaign manager and communications director.