O'Rielly Against Politics in Licensing; Clyburn, Rosenworcel Want FCC Members to Speak Against Trump Tweet
FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly became perhaps the first Republican FCC member to speak against politics in licensing since President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday about opposing NBC's "license" (see 1710120028). O'Rielly is "pretty consistent on licensing and would not want politics…
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to influence our decision-making,” he told a conference Friday, according to an aide who was present and TR Daily. “I believe in the independence of the agency.” Trump "is rightfully venting his experiences and disappointment with how the coverage has been occurring regarding his administration. I’ve been surprised how vitriolic" such reports have been, O'Rielly reportedly said. "President [Bill] Clinton got better coverage during the middle of impeachment than President Trump is getting these days.” Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel continued to oppose such Trump tweets (see 1710120019). "It's essential that the FCC in all that it does is careful to abide by the First Amendment when it engages in any policies involving broadcast licenses," she said in a CNN interview Sunday. "History won’t be kind to silence, and I think it’s important for all the commissioners to make clear that they support the First Amendment and that the agency will not revoke a broadcast license simply because the president is dissatisfied with the licensee’s coverage." Commissioner Mignon Clyburn expressed similar hopes about her FCC colleagues on such broadcast licensing (see 1710110075). “Revoking a broadcast license solely on [such] grounds would be inconsistent with the First Amendment," a Clyburn spokesman emailed Monday. "The Commission generally does not intervene in such cases because it would amount to replacing the journalistic judgment of a licensee with our own. The Commissioner is hopeful that her colleagues in the Majority share this view.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., urged FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Monday to “condemn [Trump’s] attack and reassure our nation and our journalists that you will stand up for them and protect and defend their fundamental freedoms.” Trump’s comments “were alarming in both his disregard of the FCC’s independence and flagrant disrespect for freedom of the press,” Blumenthal said in a letter to Pai. “I ask for your unwavering commitment that you will ensure the First Amendment remains a cornerstone of our democracy and that you will not follow through on this direction from” Trump. Blumenthal similarly asked all five FCC commissioners in a series of tweets Monday to “stand up for our free press and reject” President Donald Trump’s “unacceptable, un-American threats.” The offices of Pai and Commissioner Brendan Carr didn’t comment Monday.