Republicans Threaten Networks Over Projects on Hillary Clinton

The chairman of the Republican National Committee threatened on Monday to refuse to partner with CNN or NBC on any presidential primary debates if the two networks move ahead with plans for television projects on Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Reince Priebus, the chairman, said in letters to the two networks that he considered the projects to be a “thinly-veiled attempt at putting a thumb on the scales of the 2016 presidential election.”

NBC has said it plans to broadcast a mini-series about Mrs. Clinton with Diane Lane scheduled to portray the former first lady and secretary of state. CNN is planning a feature-length documentary about her as well.

Several state party chairmen echoed the threat by Mr. Priebus. A.J. Spiker, chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, wrote on Twitter, “I will not sign @IowaGOP up to cosponsor debates with @CNN or @NBC unless things change.”

The threat is a preliminary move by Republican Party leaders to seize control of a debate process that often frustrated them in 2012. Republicans complained that the debates co-sponsored by the networks last year were media circuses that did not put their candidates in the best light.

But the party could face difficulty in actually changing the debate process, especially once specific candidates are pursuing the party’s nomination. Those candidates might decide that it is in their interest to have debates, regardless of what the party leadership wants.

The criticism of the network projects on Mrs. Clinton is more likely to buy Mr. Priebus some good will among rank-and-file conservatives in the party than to actually change the dynamics regarding debates that will not begin for 18 months or more.

Chris Ashby, a Virginia-based lawyer who specializes in election law, wrote on Twitter: “Instead of using @HillaryClinton documentaries as political foil, @Reince should show real leadership & reform GOP prez debate process.”

In his letters to CNN and NBC, Mr. Priebus said he would seek a “binding vote” at the R.N.C.’s summer meeting this month. He said the vote would require the party not to partner with the networks on debates or to sanction debates that they hold.