A Democratic congressman on Saturday issued a stern warning to a Trump official seen as threatening overreach on Free Speech in media.
Trump's pick, Commissioner of Federal Communications Commission Brendan Carr, over the weekend issued a warning of his own to broadcast media outlets. In a statement, Carr declared: "Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions - also known as the fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up. The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not."
Carr's comments represented an unprecedented direct threat by a Trump administration official to use regulatory authority over media licensing as a tool to influence news coverage. One Democratic lawmaker pointed out as much in a post using some profanity.
Congressman Ted Lieu responded to the FCC head, writing, "Dear @BrendanCarrFCC: If you implement your flagrantly anti First Amendment actions, you will be sued and you will lose. And legal discovery will be awesome. Because the American people can then find out what the Administration keeps hiding."
Lieu then added, "Take your fascist s--- and shove it."