Washington, D.C. — Democracy Forward today filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking records to shed light on senior officials’, including Chair Brendan Carr’s, efforts to use the agency’s licensing and enforcement powers to police and limit speech and influence what the public can watch and hear.

The FOIA request comes as Carr reportedly threatened ABC and Disney earlier this week over comments made by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel that he disagreed with: “Frankly, when you see stuff like this — I mean, we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr recently said on a podcast. “These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there’s going to be additional work for the FCC ahead.”

The request seeks emails, calendar entries, and text messages from Carr and senior staff reflecting meetings and communications with individuals outside the agency, and covers records after January 20, 2025. The request seeks to provide transparency into which outside actors may be attempting to influence agency leadership as it considers new approaches that could chill free expression and reshape the role of the FCC in controlling broadcast content. 

“This administration’s pursuit of an autocratic state is continuing to intensify at an alarming pace. If news reports are true, President Trump’s FCC Chair has used his agency to threaten news executives because of remarks by a comedian that he didn’t like,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “The public has the right to know whether senior FCC officials are engaging in conversations with outside parties that could lead to restrictions on speech and undermine freedom of expression. Our request is yet another way in which Democracy Forward seeks to shed light on potential abuses of power and ensure accountability for the American people.”

Democracy Forward has submitted thousands of FOIA requests to disseminate information in the public interest and to contribute to the public’s understanding of the priorities and activities of the Trump-Vance administration.

Read the request here.

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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.