WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, an independent agency, said Thursday that a White House official called to talk about a proposed merger between Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. and Tribune Media Co.
Ajit Pai told a Senate panel that Don McGahn, the White House counsel, called for a “status update” on the agency’s action on the deal.
He said McGahn “saw something in the news and wanted to know what our decision was,” but did not express an opinion.
The call came July 16 or 17, Pai said. Pai on July 16 had expressed “serious concerns” about the merger.
A White House official on Thursday confirmed that the call took place, but would not discuss substance of the call.
Tribune scrapped the deal on Aug. 9.
President Donald Trump tweeted that FCC’s “disgraceful” action scuttled what would have been a “much needed” conservative voice among the “fake news” media.
Sinclair is toxic, just like Trump. OF COURSE this merger must be approved.
This only failed because other conservative media groups lobbied against it.
That the White House wants to pick winners in business is emblematic of what the GOP has become.
Whoops! This story, plus the FCC shutting down Alex Jones’ pirate radio? Watch your back, Ajit! Trump’s going to be needing a sacrificial goat in the coming days.
The most dangerous man on earth consolidating power and usurping our Constitutional rights…who wouldn’t want that?
Pai is a corporatist, not a lunatic.