Trump's FCC nominee dodges Democrats' questions on Carr and Kimmel

Danielle Thumann, Donald Trump's nominee for the Federal Communications Commission, spent her Tuesday confirmation hearing deflecting Democratic senators who wanted her to weigh in on Chairman Brendan Carr's treatment of television networks. Thumann, who is Carr's senior counsel, said she had not worked with him on media issues and was not familiar with the details of the ABC investigation or its early license renewal. She is expected to win confirmation with Republicans controlling both the Senate and House.

New Mexico senator Ben Ray Luján opened the barrage, asking whether she backed what he called Carr's campaign against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. He pointed to a late April order forcing ABC to apply early to renew its local station licenses, which came right after criticism of Kimmel from the president and first lady Melania Trump, and to accusations that Carr pressured ABC affiliates to drop Kimmel's show the previous fall. When Luján demanded she name a single issue where she had disagreed with Carr, she declined to answer. He also asked whether it was appropriate for the FCC to call up Disney's broadcast license for early renewal.

Massachusetts senator Ed Markey took over next, grilling Thumann on what he called Carr's censorship agenda and asking whether the FCC has authority to punish a broadcaster because the president dislikes its coverage. He said the Constitution bars exactly that, then accused her of evading him. Anyone seeking a seat on the commission must be willing to defend the First Amendment, Markey said, adding: you are not willing to do so here in your confirmation hearing.

Tammy Duckworth asked whether Thumann would cave to political pressure to punish disfavored networks. Thumann said the commission must handle complaints against the broadcasters it regulates, but conceded that editorial decision-making is protected by the First Amendment for broadcasters, and said a station's license decision should not rest purely on someone's discontent with what is aired.

Democrats also objected to the commerce committee holding the hearing at all, arguing that if Republicans nominate a second member of their own party to the commission, precedent calls for nominating a Democrat alongside. The FCC has one commissioner nominated by a Democratic president, Anna M Gomez, whose term has technically already expired.

Luján closed with a message aimed straight at Carr. He said the chairman will be hauled before the Senate once a month, if not more, and before the House too, answering questions without the protection of the gavel, and will face subpoena authorities so lawmakers can get to the bottom of what he called the nonsense and cover-ups.