Free Speech

Carr Fires Back at Blumenthal Over Media Probes

FCC Chairman says he is treating all parties fairly

Ari Bertenthal

Apr 4, 2025 — 1 min read

Photo of Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., from Facebook

WASHINGTON, Apr. 4, 2025 – Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr responded to a Senate inquiry set in motion by Senate Democrats on March 12, 2025, asserting that the FCC is stressing fairness in its conduct.

Carr wrote on March 26 to Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asserting that the FCC’s investigations into major media outlets, including Comcast, ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR and PBS, are simply based on precedent established by the FCC under the Biden administration.

Carr specifically cited the treatment of the Fox 29 Philadelphia TV station, which was subject to a petition put out for public comment in 2023 by then-FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel that called for blocking the station’s broadcast license renewal over alleged election fraud misinformation spread by its parent company.

Carr also mentioned the pending news distortion complaint against CBS over the editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris on Oct. 7, 2024. The complaint was filed by the Center for American Rights. Rosenworcel dismissed the CAR complaint four days before she left office. Carr revived the complaint after becoming Chairman on Jan. 20.

“The Biden Administration pursued a two-tiered system of justice. It does not surprise me that, for the businesses, individuals, and interests that benefited from this Biden-era weaponization, the FCC’s fair and balanced treatment of today feels like discrimination. But that does not make it so,” Carr said in his response to Blumenthal.

Carr cited disparities between the investigation into Fox 29 Philadelphia and investigations into the media outlets currently under review by Carr’s FCC.

Blumenthal asserted in his original letter that the FCC was not being impartial in its various investigations.

“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 said.

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