RNC chairman expects to follow through with NBC, CNN debate boycott

Reince Priebus said Tuesday that the Republican National Committee will likely have to follow through and block both CNN and NBC from participating in 2016 GOP primary debates.

"My guess is this is exactly what’s going to happen: They will produce the films, and we will cut them out," Priebus, the chairman of the RNC, told the Washington Post.

Asked how he expected to specifically prevent Republican candidates from agreeing to debates sponsored by CNN or NBC, Priebus said his proposal is to keep all GOP candidates "in the box" by making the GOP nomination process exclusive of those outlets.

Priebus issued his original threat in a letter to supporters and in separate letters to NBC and CNN, following the news that each network is planning productions based on the career of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ahead of the 2016 election.