Ted Cruz Criticizes FCC Commissioner’s Push to Investigate Jimmy Kimmel
WASHINGTON – Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) publicly rebuked Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Brendan Carr on Friday for what he termed a “mafioso” tactic in urging Disney to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel following the comedian’s jokes about former President Donald Trump. Cruz argued that the FCC’s involvement sets a risky precedent that could be used to silence dissenting voices across the political spectrum.
the dispute stems from Carr’s call for Disney to review its contractual obligations with Kimmel after the comedian mocked Trump during his show. Following Carr’s intervention, Disney suspended Kimmel. While Disney stated the suspension was its own decision, Carr indicated further changes within the media landscape are anticipated.
“It might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel, but if it is used to silence every person in America, we will regret it,” cruz stated. “I like Brendan Carr but we should not be in this business.”
Former President trump publicly disagreed with Cruz’s assessment, calling Carr “a great American patriot.”
The conflict between Cruz and Kimmel has a history. In 2018, the senator challenged Kimmel to a one-on-one basketball game after the comedian mocked his appearance, an event that ultimately raised money for charity.
Cruz, whose committee has jurisdiction over the FCC, also criticized Democrats for a lack of oversight during thier time in the majority. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) applauded Cruz’s stance,calling it ”courageous.”
Most Republican lawmakers have refrained from criticizing carr, maintaining Disney made its own decision. Democrats, however, have uniformly condemned Carr’s actions as a violation of the First Amendment. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) warned that a “weaponized FCC” could be turned against conservative commentators in the future.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the role of goverment regulation in the media and the boundaries of free speech.
