U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D) from Connecticut has written a letter to Federal Communications Commission’s Acting Bureau Chief of the Enforcement Bureau, Patrick Webre, and Acting Bureau Chief of the Media Bureau, Erin Boone, looking for information about the FCC’s recent “unprecedented, intrusive investigations against media broadcasters under arbitrary and capricious pretenses.” 

Blumenthal, the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, calls the FCC’s recent actions “retaliatory actions against news organizations targeted by President Donald Trump” all because of negative coverage of Trump.

The local stations under scrutiny by the commission include, WPVI in Philadelphia, WCBS and WNBC in New York, and radio station KCBS in San Francisco.

“Each of these eight actions single out media broadcasters that faced the wrath of President Trump during his Presidential campaign, including actual litigation or outright threats of investigations in retaliation for perceived negative coverage,” Blumenthal wrote. “This exclusive targeting to the apparent benefit of the President is further reflected in the fact that other media broadcasters, particularly allies of the President, have not faced any similar scrutiny.”

Blumenthal’s letter describes Carr’s apparent break from FCC’s past legal interpretations and guidance, including Carr’s own positions prior to becoming Chair of the FCC. The letter requests information and seeks documents about the legal standards that the FCC is now operating under. The letter also asks for information about what investigations the Commission has recently opened, including whether there are inquiries focusing on media entities favored by President Trump that have engaged in the same activities as those targeted by Carr.

“Under the new standard that appears to have been set by Chair Carr, however, every newsroom, affiliate group, and broadcaster across the country faces the possibility of burdensome investigations, fines, and even the revocation of licenses for disfavored speech or a change in political winds — they will pay a price if the targeted newsrooms do not conform to President Trump’s preferred political narratives,” Blumenthal wrote.

Blumenthal’s letter to the FCC is available here and below.