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Sen. Markey Can't Recall His Own Effort to Revoke Sinclair's TV Licenses

Veteran Massachusetts Democrat called out on his attacks on the First Amendment in 2018 by freshman Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio.

Ted Hearn

Ted Hearn

— 9 min read
Sen. Markey Can't Recall His Own Effort to Revoke Sinclair's TV Licenses
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Free Speech: Memories can be short on Capitol Hill, as an exchange Wednesday between Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) demonstrated. At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on government encroachment on the First Amendment, Markey read a long statement condemning alleged Trump administration censorship. “Our democracy is at risk when the First Amendment is being challenged so fundamentally by the President out of the White House instructing his chairman of the [FCC] to revoke the licenses of anyone who dares run any program that runs contrary to his views,” Markey said. Then it was Moreno’s turn. “Just a quick question to my colleague …. Did you sign on to that letter asking the FCC to revoke the license of Sinclair broadcasting in 2018?” Markey, 79, wasn’t sure. “I’ll have to go and to review that,” Markey replied. (More after paywall.)

Photo of Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) (right) and Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) Wednesday at the Senate Commerce Committee.
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