Heidi M. Przybyla

USA TODAY

MIAMI — Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta said she will accept the three debates set by the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates and urged Donald Trump to do the same.

"With so much at stake in the fall elections, she believes these debates will provide the American people with an important opportunity to hear from the candidates on issues critical to the country's future," Podesta said in a statement.

The statement clarifying Clinton's position comes after Trump raised questions about the timing of the forums, including accusing Clinton of "trying to rig" the debates to conflict with major NFL games.

It's a claim that Politifact.com says is false since the dates were determined by an independent, bipartisan organization long before the two major parties' nominees were clear.

"It is concerning that the Trump campaign is already engaged in shenanigans around these debates," said Podesta. "It is not clear if he is trying to avoid debates, or merely toying with the press to create more drama."

Said Podesta: "Either way, our campaign is not interested in playing along with a debate about debates or bargaining around them. The only issue now is whether Donald Trump is going to show up to debate at the date, times, places and formats set by the commission last year through a bipartisan process. We will accept the commission's invitation and expect Donald Trump to do the same."