A conservative advocacy group on Thursday asked the Federal Communications Commission to reject a news distortion complaint over a CBS “60-minute” interview with then-run President Kamala Harris, which aired in October.
He called on the Center for Personal Freedom, Americans for Tax Reform, the Alliance for Tax Reform, and FCC Chair Brendan Kerr to end the investigation into Paramount Global units, saying, “A disadvantageous ruling against CBS would constitute a regulatory over-earning and prior precedent that the FCC can weaponize in the future.”
The FCC is checking whether broadcasts violate the “news distortion” rules.
Agents are prohibited from censoring or infringing on the media's initial right to amend, but broadcasters cannot intentionally distort the news.
The group also urged the FCC to “take steps to reduce the committee's ability to engage in content-based regulations and reviews.”
The group said there were legitimate concerns about previous actions against conservatives, but the better course was to eliminate rules regarding news distortion complaints.
“We understand and appreciate why many conservatives are now trying to level the playing field and try to impose the same regulatory litigation that other media organizations, such as CBS' parent company Paramount, have long been tormenting conservative media,” the group said.
In an email to Reuters, Kerr said he was denying the group's request to immediately dismiss the complaint against CBS.
“FCC's review of complaints against CBS continues to be ongoing,” he said.
The American Civil Liberties Union individually said there was no basis for an investigation.
“Performing a news distortion investigation without fragments of evidence appears to be intended to chill those who harass and hate CBS,” the group said.
CBS, owned by Paramount Global, said earlier this month it had approved the company for an interview.
The complaint alleges that CBS violates FCC rules regarding “news distortion.” The network will broadcast some of Harris' answers about “Face the Nation,” and broadcast different things in “60 minutes.”
CBS handed over unedited videos and transcripts to the FCC, which were published like the station.
President Trump sued CBS for $20 billion on the air. Paramount is seeking FCC approval for the $8.4 billion merger with SkyDance Media.
Last month, the FCC revived complaints about a “60-minute” interview with Harris, and the election lost to Trump shortly before the election against Comcast's NBC, where Walt Disney's ABC News eased pre-election television debate between then-President Joe Biden and Trump, and Comcast's NBC to get Harris to appear on Saturday Night Live.
The former FCC Chairperson rejected these complaints.
