FCC Commissioner Slams ABC License Review as First Amendment Violation

AOL.com reported Tuesday that the FCC’s decision to launch an early ABC license review has unleashed a wave of condemnation from civil liberties organisations and drawn rare dissent from within the agency itself.

FCC Orders Early Scrutiny of Eight ABC Stations

The Federal Communications Commission announced it would accelerate the renewal process for eight broadcast station licenses held by ABC, a subsidiary of Disney. The licenses were not scheduled to come up for renewal until at least 2028. The agency cited a yearlong investigation into Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices as the basis for the action. The affected stations operate in major markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. Each station has 30 days to respond to the FCC’s order.

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A Joke, a Tragedy, and a Fast Track

A source familiar with the matter told AOL.com the process was accelerated after ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel made a joke about first lady Melania Trump. The segment, which described her as an “expectant widow,” aired before a gunman allegedly targeting administration officials opened fire outside a Washington correspondents’ dinner. President Donald Trump and communications director Steven Cheung publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal. Kimmel defended the remarks as a “very light roast joke.” ABC and Disney have not publicly commented. The FCC, for its part, insisted the order is rooted entirely in the DEI inquiry and has no connection to any broadcast content.

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First Amendment Backlash Mounts

Civil liberties advocates were swift and sharp in their response. Seth Stern of the Freedom of the Press Foundation called the move “illegal jawboning” designed to intimidate a broadcaster into compliance. Bob Corn-Revere of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression labelled the proceedings “viewpoint retaliation,” arguing the timing exposed the DEI rationale as a pretext. The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University warned the action was part of a broader effort to bring media outlets into alignment with government positions. Reporters Without Borders and PEN America also condemned the order. Oscar-winning actor Jane Fonda, who revived a First Amendment advocacy group founded by her father, called the review a weaponisation of government authority.

Lone Democrat Inside the FCC Speaks Out

The sharpest internal criticism came from FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, the panel’s only Democratic appointee. She described the ABC license review as the most serious First Amendment violation the agency has undertaken under its current leadership. Gomez called the action both unprecedented and politically motivated, and argued the overreach would ultimately be overturned. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has not publicly responded to the dissent. The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the backlash.

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