ABC sues the FCC, alleging that the Trump administration retaliated against its editorial content through regulatory actions. The TV network filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the communication agency earlier today in Washington, D.C. The move comes after President Donald Trump’s aggressive comments about the network and Jimmy Kimmel, who hosts its popular late-night show.
Deadline has reported that the lawsuit also seeks to put the brakes on a proceeding headed by FCC chairman Brendan Carr against ABC. Previously, the network and its owner, Disney, faced allegations of running a misinformation campaign after the agency launched an investigation into The View’s broadcast license.
The lawsuit stated, “Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts.”
How ABC says the FCC’s license process could become a ‘charade’
The lawsuit cited several instances in which the President criticized the network for its coverage of his policies. Following Kimmel’s comments on his show, Carr issued a public warning to ABC. According to another report, the FCC is expected to issue a hearing designation order this month, which would kick off an agency adjudication process.
“Any FCC adjudication would be a charade,” ABC stated in the lawsuit. “The Commission cannot lawfully grant renewal this early in the license terms—the only outcomes on the table are adverse to Plaintiffs. At one extreme, the Commission may intentionally prolong the adjudicative process, miring ABC in years of costly litigation, with the threat of adverse action ever present and with every editorial judgment shadowed by the prospect of provoking the Administration into further retaliation.”
After Carr threatened regulatory action against ABC, the FCC launched several inquiries into the network’s corporate policies regarding DEI hiring practices. The agency asked ABC to submit an early broadcast license renewal process for eight major local stations it owns.
ABC also claimed that the FCC’s actions against the network could be seen as a warning to other networks. The network, according to the lawsuit, seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to halt further action regarding the license renewals. It also seeks an order prohibiting the FCC from taking actions that “coerce or threaten” ABC’s editorial freedom.
Originally reported by Rahul Majumdar on ComingSoon.
