FCC faces lawsuit over alleged political retaliation after Jimmy Kimmel interview dispute
The Federal Communications Commission's review of a Disney license is being challenged in court as a politically motivated effort to curb free speech, following a controversy over a Jimmy Kimmel interview with Senate candidate Dan Talarico.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been sued by Disney, which argues that the agency's recent review of its broadcast license is a politically driven retaliation linked to a late-night interview with Texas Senate candidate Dan Talarico. The review was launched in April after President Donald Trump demanded that Jimmy Kimmel be fired for jokes made about the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, which Trump later called a "despicable call to violence."
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the review was part of an investigation into the company's diversity, equity and inclusion practices, but Disney contends the move violates the First Amendment. The lawsuit claims the administration used the FCC to punish ABC for airing content it disapproved of.
The dispute follows a similar incident earlier this year when CBS blocked a Stephen Colbert interview with Talarico, citing the FCC's "equal-time" rule after pressure from the same administration. Colbert criticized the effort as an attempt to silence critics of Trump.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro filed the lawsuit on September 3, and a federal judge has set a hearing for October 6. In response, Jimmy Kimmel urged viewers to watch the full interview on his show's YouTube channel and reminded them to register to vote.