Key facts
- Disney and ABC are suing the FCC and its chairman, Brendan Carr.
- The lawsuit alleges a "campaign of censorship" by the Trump administration against ABC.
- Disney claims the FCC's actions retaliate against ABC's news content and violate First Amendment rights.
- The suit seeks to stop early broadcast license renewal proceedings for eight ABC stations.
- FCC Chairman Carr ordered an early review of ABC's licenses due to alleged DEI violations.
- FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez supports Disney's lawsuit, calling the agency's actions intimidation.
Disney and its subsidiary ABC have filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, alleging a "campaign of censorship" orchestrated by the Trump administration. The complaint asserts that the administration is retaliating against ABC for its news content and violating the network's First Amendment rights.
The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to halt the FCC's current proceeding, which involves an early review of broadcast licenses held by ABC stations. Disney argues that this early review, ordered by Carr, is an unusual step intended to pressure the network and could lead to license revocation or years of costly litigation.
According to the lawsuit, the administration's actions escalated after ABC's reporting and programming, with President Trump repeatedly calling for ABC to lose its licenses. The FCC's review was reportedly prompted by a joke made by Jimmy Kimmel and concerns over ABC's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, which the FCC claims may violate anti-discrimination rules. An FCC spokesperson stated that the agency is examining these claims and accused Disney of spreading disinformation.
Disney's legal filing details a history of attacks on ABC by the Trump administration, including accusations of bias. The lawsuit also mentions Carr's previous threats related to Kimmel's show and a separate proceeding examining whether ABC's 'The View' qualifies for exemption from equal-time rules. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez has publicly supported Disney's lawsuit, criticizing the FCC's actions as government intimidation.