Democrats are fighting back against President Donald Trump's threats against broadcasters and critics after ABC and Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel, claiming the late-night host is a "dumb person to take on" — and that they're ready to challenge the administration.
Democrats are now approaching the Kimmel suspension with major attention. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) Thursday motioned unsuccessfully to subpoena FCC Chairman Brendan Carr — who threatened ABC/Disney on a podcast Wednesday ahead of pulling Kimmel's show — to testify about the incident, according to an Axios report Friday.
Kimmel is a "a dumb person to take on," Khanna told Axios. "If they go after comedy or they go after sports, those are two things you can't do in America."
A new resolution introduced by Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) calls out the Trump administration for his attempt to silence critics and people who say things he doesn't like, according to an Axios report Friday.
"No president and no political party should weaponize the power of our federal government to punish those who disagree with them," Ansari said in a statement. "Silencing critics through government power is the playbook of authoritarian regimes. We're fighting this."
Carr on Wednesday threatened immediate action against Kimmel, ABC and Disney over the comments, claiming he deliberately misled the public and said "it appears to be some of the sickest conduct possible" in the wake of Kirk's killing. He also said that Kimmel should be suspended and that ABC should lose its broadcast license.
Hours later, Kimmel was suspended.
Other Democrats have announced plans to continue investigating in the wake of Kimmel's removal.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said his team is calling for Carr to "resign immediately" and said it was time to seek the truth, "even if that requires the relentless unleashing of congressional subpoena power."
House Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia (D-CA) has launched an investigation into ABC, Sinclair Broadcasting and the Trump administration. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) also told Axios he would launch an investigation and will "leave no stone unturned."
