Four Democratic lawmakers are opening a probe into Nexstar and Sinclair, two major TV station owners that are refusing to air[1] Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show amid criticism of his on-air comments[2] about the assassination of Charlie Kirk[3].
In a letter, first obtained by NBC News, the lawmakers asked the corporate heads of both companies for more information about their decisions to pre-empt airings of ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “how those decisions may relate to regulatory issues pending with the Trump administration.”
“If you suspended a late-night comedian’s show in part to seek regulatory favors from the administration, you have not only assisted the administration in eroding First Amendment freedoms but also create the appearance of a possible quid-pro-quo arrangement that could implicate federal anti-corruption laws,” the lawmakers wrote[4].
The seven-page letter was sent by Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. It is addressed to Perry A. Sook, the chairman of Nexstar Media Group, and Christopher S. Ripley, the president and chief executive of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Together, Nexstar and Sinclair account for roughly 70 ABC affiliates across the U.S.
The four Democratic lawmakers do not have subpoena power because their party does not have a majority in the U.S. Senate, but they can still demand answers from business leaders and public officials on issues tied to federal law.
Nexstar and Sinclair both have pending business before the Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission, which regulates the broadcast television industry and other key media platforms. Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for a proposed $6.2 billion merger with a rival, Tegna. Sinclair is exploring merger options for its broadcast business, according to CNBC[6].
The lawmakers outlined eight questions for the heads of Nexstar and Sinclair, including which company executives were involved in discussions about pre-empting Kimmel’s show; what actions the companies are taking to “facilitate the Trump administration’s sign-off” on their pending deals; and whether the companies spoke with the head of the FCC or other Trump administration officials about the Kimmel decisions.
Representatives for Nexstar and Sinclair did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Kimmel’s late-night talk show is set to return Tuesday[7] after he was suspended for what Disney, the owner of ABC, characterized as “ill-timed and thus insensitive” remarks about the killing of Kirk, a prominent conservative activist.
“The MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said during his Sept. 15 show.
Kimmel’s comments set off a political firestorm. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr[8] accused Kimmel of being part of a “concerted effort to lie to the American people” and threatened to “take action” at the regulatory level against Disney. Nexstar and Sinclair said they would yank the show from their airwaves, and Disney halted production. The suspension drew backlash[9] from Hollywood talent and lawmakers in both parties, stoking a national debate over free speech.
Disney announced Monday that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would return Tuesday night, ending an impasse that riveted Hollywood and Washington alike. But Nexstar and Sinclair said they would continue to pre-empt the show until further notice.
“We stand by that decision pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve,” Nexstar said in its news release.
Carr, for his part, denied that he threatened to revoke ABC’s broadcast licenses unless Disney fired Kimmel, a vocal critic of President Donald Trump who has hosted his namesake talk show since 2003. Carr, speaking at a conference Monday, insisted that Disney, “on its own,” made a “business decision” to suspend the late-night host’s show. He also accused Democratic lawmakers of “distorting what happened here” with accusations of government coercion and censorship.
Warren, Wyden, Markey and Van Hollen said they request answers to their questions by Oct. 7.
References
- ^ refusing to air (www.nbcnews.com)
- ^ criticism of his on-air comments (www.nbcnews.com)
- ^ the assassination of Charlie Kirk (www.nbcnews.com)
- ^ the lawmakers wrote (www.warren.senate.gov)
- ^ Follow live updates here. (www.nbcnews.com)
- ^ according to CNBC (www.cnbc.com)
- ^ set to return Tuesday (www.nbcnews.com)
- ^ FCC Chairman Brendan Carr (www.nbcnews.com)
- ^ The suspension drew backlash (www.nbcnews.com)