MATSUI, PALLONE, CLARKE CALL FOR IG INVESTIGATION INTO FCC CHAIRMAN BRENDAN CARR AMID JIMMY KIMMEL SUSPENSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Doris Matsui (D-CA), full Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Inspector General (IG) to launch an investigationinto Chairman Brendan Carr's illegal and unconstitutional censorship campaign, including punishing broadcasters for carrying Jimmy Kimmel's show and abusing his authority as related to the merger between Paramount and Skydance.

"Chairman Carr's most recent abuse of authority constituted his most transparent act of illegal and unconstitutional censorship to date. This week, he used his position as FCC Chairman to launch an illegal campaign to remove Jimmy Kimmel from the nation's airwaves. This move was months, if not years, in the making," the Ranking Members wrote to Inspector General Fara Damelin.

The Democratic Committee leaders explained that on September 17, Carr appeared on right-wing commentator Benny Johnson's podcast, during which he issued an explicit threat to Disney/ABC that the FCC would take action if the company did not punish Kimmel for his speech. Carr also called on ABC affiliate stations to refuse to air Kimmel's show.

Specifically, Carr said, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead."

Carr was referencing comments Kimmel had made on his show days previously, which did not garner much attention at the time. Yet it was only hours after Carr threatened broadcasters on Johnson's podcast that the announcement was made Kimmel's show would be indefinitely taken off the air.

"The timeline speaks for itself - Chairman Carr publicly threatened the licenses of several broadcasters and directly recommended both the curtailing of protected speech and punishment for protected speech. This is censorship. And such censorship is prohibited both by the Communications Act and the Constitution," the Ranking Members wrote. "Chairman Carr's use of his office and any official resources in furtherance of an illegal and unconstitutional campaign of censorship constitutes a clear abuse of authority and demonstrates a lack of appropriate policies and procedures at the agency."

The Democratic Committee leaders continued: "Chairman Carr's unprecedented and abusive actions warrant immediate and thorough investigation by your office. There is ongoing and unprecedented abuse of FCC authority weaponizing the agency in a way that violates regulated entities' Constitutional rights and personally benefits the President."

The lawmakers concluded by underscoring that the IG is entitled to full access to all Commission records and requesting that the IG use its authorities to investigate Carr's actions and the policies and procedures being used at FCC.

The full letter can be found HERE.



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