Harris Campaign Seeking "Escape Hatch" from ABC Debate

Vice President Kamala Harris' team accused of trying to backtrack on agreed-upon debate rules, raising concerns that they are seeking a way out.

Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign is facing accusations of seeking an "escape hatch" ahead of next Tuesday's ABC News presidential debate, according to Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller. The Harris team has reportedly pushed to tweak the rules surrounding microphones during the debate, slated for Sept. 10, backtracking on previously solidified agreements to have muted mics during the opposing candidate's speaking time.

Miller, speaking on "Sunday Morning Futures," accused Harris' team of being "afraid" to put the vice president on stage. "They don't want to put Kamala Harris out there, and you want to know why? Because she's going to have to answer for every bit of this last three and a half years. You can't talk about turning the page when you're the one who broke the economy, broke the border, broke the world, but that's on Kamala, and she's going to have to account for that when she's on the debate stage."

Harris Campaign Seeking "Escape Hatch" from ABC Debate

The Harris campaign has still refused to sign off on the rules already agreed upon for the upcoming debate, which were initially supposed to mirror the guidelines outlined for the CNN debate held between former President Trump and President Biden in June. "The memo sent by ABC is a draft set of rules that both campaigns need to sign off on and indicate agreement. We have not done so because we think both candidates have expressed a clear desire to have hot mics. Not clear why Trump staff is overruling their principal, who should be capable of making up his own mind," Harris spokesperson Brian Fallon wrote in an email on Thursday.

He continued, "We have been asked to accede to Trump’s handlers’ wishes on this point for the sake of preserving the debate. We find the Trump's (sic) team’s stance to be weak, and remain in discussions with ABC on the final rules."

Harris Campaign Seeking "Escape Hatch" from ABC Debate

Miller contradicted the Harris campaign's claims, arguing that they now realize "what they're working with" after prepping Harris for the faceoff. "The Harris campaign is looking for an escape hatch, looking for a way to get out of this debate," he asserted.

"To be clear, these are the rules that the Democrats wrote. These are the rules we had in place for the CNN debate. Everyone had agreed to the rules, at least informally, with ABC. We have a deal with ABC. ABC is with us all the way on this, but here's what I think happened. I think the Harris folks started going into debate prep, and now they realize what they're working with. They realize that they're in real trouble with Kamala Harris."

Harris Campaign Seeking "Escape Hatch" from ABC Debate

Miller added, "They also know that President Trump is the greatest debater in modern political history, so I think they're nervous and want a way out."

Fox News Digital contacted the Harris campaign for comment, but they did not immediately respond. ABC also declined to comment.

Harris Campaign Seeking "Escape Hatch" from ABC Debate

Miller, in remarks to Fox News Digital, said, "The Harris camp, after having already agreed to the CNN rules, asked for a seated debate, with notes, and opening statements. We said no changes to the agreed upon rules. If Kamala Harris isn’t smart enough to repeat the messaging points her handlers want her to memorize, that’s their problem."

The debate between Harris and Trump is scheduled to take place on Sept. 10 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. It will be moderated by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos.

Harris Campaign Seeking "Escape Hatch" from ABC Debate

This issue has escalated the already tense atmosphere between the Trump and Harris campaigns, with both sides accusing the other of being unreasonable and trying to undermine the debate process. The debate is seen as a crucial moment in the upcoming presidential election, and it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact its outcome.