Moreno Calls for FCC Investigation into ABC News

Senator Bernie Moreno, a Republican from Ohio, has urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate ABC News. His request follows the network’s decision to delete and significantly alter a report that involved President Donald Trump’s sons and the defense contractor Anduril Industries. The senator accused the Disney-owned network of disseminating false information that could adversely affect a large investment in Ohio.

In a letter addressed to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Moreno expressed concerns about the accountability of ABC News’s reporting and questioned if the network failed to uphold its obligations as a broadcaster.

“Therefore, I request that the Commission undertake a formal inquiry into ABC News’s politically charged reporting. It’s vital to uncover who authorized the publication of this misleading story, who may have benefited from such an attack, and whether ABC News’s actions breached its responsibilities as a licensee,” Moreno stated.

Fox News Digital contacted Moreno’s office for further comments, but a spokesperson for the senator declined to elaborate on the claims.

ABC News had previously acknowledged factual mistakes related to company investments, government contracts, and the timeline of events after taking down the initial report about Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump’s business dealings. The article originally claimed that companies linked to the Trump brothers had obtained billions in government contracts via venture capital firm 1789 Capital.

Moreno specifically contested the report’s portrayal of Anduril’s financing, arguing that the network misrepresented the company’s investment activities and unfairly connected the Trump family to federal contracting matters. He emphasized that ABC News operates under broadcast licenses granted by the FCC, which are privileges that necessitate serving the public interest.

The senator’s appeal came in light of ABC News’s earlier claim that 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. is a partner, had secured a significant stake in Anduril through a $2.5 billion investment. However, this figure actually referred to Anduril’s broader fundraising efforts, while 1789 Capital’s investment was about $50 million.

On Friday, ABC News republished a revised article that acknowledged the errors and clarified that Trump Jr. is not involved in the firm’s investment decision-making committee. The updated article also included a new headline, revised byline, and an editor’s note admitting to inaccuracies regarding company investments and government contracts.

Moreno also highlighted the potential economic impact on Ohio, where Anduril plans to develop its Arsenal-1 manufacturing facility. The company has announced an anticipated investment of nearly $1 billion in the project, expected to create over 4,000 jobs.

In his letter, Moreno charged that ABC News had undermined the public’s trust in journalism while potentially jeopardizing a significant employer in the state. “The American public, especially the workers in Ohio whose jobs could be threatened by this reporting, deserve answers and accountability,” he remarked.

This investigation request comes amid an ongoing legal dispute between Disney and the FCC regarding the early review of ABC’s television station licenses. Disney has claimed that this review jeopardizes constitutionally protected editorial independence, while the FCC has defended its actions as part of routine regulatory oversight.

Fox News Digital reached out to the FCC but has not received a response as of now. An ABC News source commented on the matter, stating, “We always assess each situation carefully and will refrain from further comments at this time.”