Disney has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission, alleging a violation of its First Amendment rights. The suit was filed Tuesday.
The legal action comes after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr defended the agency's actions against ABC, stating that broadcasters have a duty to "operate in the public interest" and that the FCC is attempting to restore that standard. Carr has expressed concerns about the state of media trust, saying the country "should have a trusted, respected news media, and we’re not there."
ABC had previously accused the FCC of attempting to suppress its constitutionally protected free speech, and by extension, that of all media outlets. These comments were made in ABC's latest filing to the agency, formally opposing the FCC's early review of eight ABC local broadcast licenses, which was launched in April, well before their expiration date.
The FCC's early review of ABC's licenses in April coincided with President Donald Trump's repeated calls for the late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired, following a joke that reportedly offended the president. The FCC cited diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at Disney as a reason for its review.