Liz Cheney Criticizes FCC Chairman Over Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension

Former Congressman Liz Cheney, a Republican from Wyoming, has publicly criticized FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for his involvement in comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s recent suspension from ABC.

Cheney, known for her opposition to the Trump administration, pointed out Carr’s comments made prior to Kimmel’s suspension, where he urged ABC to either take action against Kimmel or risk facing consequences from federal regulators.

In a statement, Cheney echoed a Supreme Court principle from last year, emphasizing, “Government officials cannot try to force private parties to punish or suppress government opinions.” She underscored that this principle applies to all officials, reminding Carr of his constitutional pledge.

Her remarks come amid growing concerns from various Democrats, free speech advocates, and some Republicans regarding government interference in private business decisions.

Critics have reacted strongly against Carr’s statements, which seemed to suggest that Kimmel should face repercussions, particularly after Kimmel controversially linked a recent violent incident to the MAGA movement. Carr defended the station’s decision to suspend Kimmel, calling it the right move.

Senator Ted Cruz, expressing his disdain for Kimmel’s comments, stated on his podcast that although he disapproves of Kimmel, the government should not threaten media outlets with repercussions for their content. He warned that such actions could have negative implications for conservative voices.

Former Vice President Mike Pence also weighed in, acknowledging Carr’s position while supporting the freedom of employers to dismiss employees based on their statements.

In defense of his remarks, Carr maintained that while some shows, like “The View,” could be seen as legitimate news, there’s still debate about what constitutes authentic news programming.