Federal Communications Commissioner Anna Gomez, the sole Democrat on the commission, has strongly criticized the agency's decision to launch an early review of ABC's local broadcast licenses, calling it an egregious violation of the First Amendment.
In an interview on Bloomberg This Weekend, Gomez argued that the unprecedented move targets the network for its editorial content, specifically the controversy surrounding late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's joke. "This is not about public interest obligations; it's about retaliating against speech the government disagrees with," Gomez stated.
The FCC, under Republican leadership, ordered the early license renewal review amid pressure from President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for ABC to lose its licenses over what he deems unfair coverage. Gomez warned that such actions set a dangerous precedent for broadcast freedom.
"The First Amendment exists precisely to protect unpopular speech from government retaliation. This commission should be defending that principle, not undermining it," she added.
The full interview is available on Bloomberg This Weekend.