Senator Ted Cruz has criticised Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr for threatening to revoke ABC's broadcast licences over comments made by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, comparing the approach to mafia tactics from the film Goodfellas.
Speaking on his podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican said he was pleased that Kimmel had been suspended indefinitely, but warned that government action to police speech could harm conservatives if Democrats return to power. 'He threatens explicitly: We're going to cancel ABC's license... We can do this the easy way, but we can do this the hard way,' Cruz said, adding that this was 'right out of a mafioso coming into a bar.'
Cruz, a Harvard Law graduate and former Trump rival turned supporter, described Carr's comments as 'unbelievably dangerous' and raised First Amendment concerns. He argued that if the government starts banning media outlets for content it dislikes, it will ultimately hurt conservative voices.
President Donald Trump disagreed with Cruz, calling Carr a patriot and suggesting that networks like ABC use airwaves 'illegally' by broadcasting negative coverage of him. Trump cited a NewsBusters analysis claiming 97% negative spin, though the group is a conservative watchdog founded by his nominee for ambassador to South Africa.
