RELEASE: REP. KHANNA MOTIONS TO SUBPOENA FCC CHAIRMAN CARR IN THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, SLAMS ADMINISTRATION FOR “LARGEST ASSAULT ON FREE SPEECH IN MODERN HISTORY”

Washington, DC - Today, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) motioned to subpoena Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Brendan Carr in the House Oversight Committee after Carr pressured ABC to take action against Jimmy Kimmel for his comments about Charlie Kirk. Following Rep. Khanna's motion, Chairman Comer agreed to work to bring Carr before the committee. To watch Rep. Khanna's remarks, click here.

Transcript of Rep. Khanna's Remarks:

This administration has initiated the largest assault on the First Amendment and free speech in modern history. They're making comedy illegal. Brendan Carr pressured ABC to cancel Jimmy Kimmel and Disney cancels Jimmy Kimmel. This canceling from an administration that lectured us about cancel culture. That is why today I am introducing a motion to subpoena Brendan Carr to bring him in front of this committee to stop the intimidation of private businesses and to stand up for the First Amendment. And it's not just Brendan Carr. Attorney General Pam Bondi is prosecuting hate speech even though hate speech is constitutionally protected and even though we've had so many lectures from my friends on the other side of the aisle not to prosecute hate speech.

And what about our Vice President? The champion of free speech as he told us during the campaign. The Vice President is telling Americans to snitch on fellow Americans who have offensive posts and to call their employer so they can be fired, and the Vice President is threatening to prosecute political organizations that he disagrees with. Look, we are Article One of the Constitution - not foot lackeys for Donald Trump and JD Vance. It is time that we stand up for our constitutional role to defend the freedoms of Americans. People are tired of us just giving our power to Donald Trump and JD Vance. We have an obligation to our constitution - not to Donald Trump and JD Vance as they run roughshod over the First Amendment.

So in the name of all those being censored in Washington, DC and around the country, in the name of all those being intimidated in Washington, DC and around the country, in the name of Americans - Republicans, Independents, and Democrats, who believe in the First Amendment and free speech, I motion today to subpoena Brendan Carr and have him explain to the American people why he's bullying private individuals and private businesses.