GOP chairman suspends partnership with NBC for Feb. debate

Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee (Andrew Burton, Getty Images)

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus announced Friday that he had informed NBC News that the party was suspending its partnership with the network for a scheduled debate in February.

I just sent this letter to NBC News suspending our partnership for the February Debate: I just sent this letter to NBC News suspending our partnership for the February Debate: I just sent this letter to NBC News suspending our partnership for the February Debate: https://t.co/MVke5m2EBm

— Reince Priebus (@Reince) October 30, 2015

In a letter to NBC News chairman Andrew Lack

Priebus said the moderators had “engaged in a series of ‘gotcha’ questions, petty and mean-spirited in tone, and designed to embarrass our candidates.”

While acknowledging NBC didn’t “exercise full editorial control” over CNBC, the committee needed “to ensure there is not a repeat performance,” Priebus wrote.

NBC News and Telemundo are scheduled to host a GOP debate in Houston on Feb. 26, 2016.

Priebus added in his letter that the party still plans to hold a debate that day “and will ensure that National Review remains part of it,” referring to the conservative magazine that was also hosting the Feb. 26 forum.

NBC News issued a statement following Priebus’ announcement, calling it “a disappointing development.”

“However, along with our debate broadcast partners at Telemundo we will work in good faith to resolve this matter with the Republican Party,” the network said.

Advisers for a number of campaigns are gathering in Washington on Sunday for a private meeting to discuss the debate process and how to move forward with their concerns — a meeting that will not include representatives from the RNC, according to news reports.

CNBC moderators John Harwood, Carl Quintanilla and Becky Quick drew sharp criticism during and after Wednesday’s debate in Boulder, Colo., for many of their questions, such as when Harwood asked Donald Trump if his campaign was a “comic book version” of a presidential bid.

Network spokesman Brian Steel defended the moderators’ questions after the debate and reiterated that Friday in response to Priebus’ letter.

“People who want to be the leader of the free world should be able to answer substantive, challenging questions,” Steel said.