‘It’s a Simple Question!’ House Democrat Throws Down With FCC Commissioner On Trump’s Call to Strip ABC’s Broadcast License

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) sparred with Commissioner Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, during a House hearing on Thursday.

Carr appeared as a GOP-called witness for the Oversight Committee hearing, which was titled, “A Legacy of Incompetence: Consequences of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Policy Failures.”

“You didn’t answer, Mr. Raskin’s Simple question on ABC and revoking the license. I don’t need to know whether you make the same decisions with Democrats or Republicans. I just want to know simply, do you think, based on the ABC debate in your role as a former FCC commissioner, and do you think that that is grounds for revoking the license for ABC?” Khanna asked of Carr.

“Thank you. What I’ve said is consistent, what I’ve said for the past six years, which is every single decision, including in the licensing context, is one that I’ll make based on the facts, the record,” Carr replied.

“So what is your view? The whole country has the facts. We all saw the debate. I mean, it’s not like some complicated question based on those facts, based on what David Muir did, based on the questions that were asked. Would you recommend that the license be revoked? President Trump obviously has an opinion on it. He’s made it. What’s your opinion?” Khanna pressed.

“Look, I think I’ve been pretty clear again, I’ve been nominated by both President Biden and…” Carr said as Khanna interjected, “That’s not answering the question. That’s not answering the question…”

The two spoke over each other as Khanna could be heard saying, “I’m not trying to be a debate moderator, but it’s a simple question!”

“That answer would never fly in a debate. I mean, come on. It’s a simple question. Do you believe, do you agree with President Trump’s opinion that, look at least I respect that Trump has an opinion. Just give us your opinion. Yes or no?” Khanna asked again.

“My opinion is that the FCC in every single case has to apply the law,” Carr replied.

“Yeah. I’m saying, how would you apply it here? If Trump Trump looked at the debate, he said the debate was unfair. He says one thing that people respect about him. He says what he believes. You’re sitting here not giving us an opinion. Just say, yes, I agree with President Trump or no, I disagree with it. This is what people hate, they hate the obfuscation. Just take a stand. How hard is it?” Khanna declared.

“My position is clear. What you’re raising are concerns about weaponization. I think it’s important that we talk about that when there is a license transfer of radio stations,” Carr said as Khanna tried to interject again.

Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) jumped in and said, “Let the witness answer the question.”

“A license transfer in South Florida to a group that people believed were conservative purchasers. Democrats said the FCC should block it because the election depended on it,” Carr replied.

“But my question is very simple. Based on the debate and based on the debate…” Khanna asked again as the two spoke over each other.

Eventually, Khanna said, “Let me try one last time, based on the debate, did you think that the questions were unfair or rigged in a way that calls for ABC’s license to be revoked the way President Trump has been very clear. I respect he’s very clear on his view. Do you agree or disagree with his view? It’s a yes or no.”

“I think my position has been very clear going back to 2017,” Carr began as Comer said, “Gentleman’s time’s expired, but please feel free to ask the question.”

“I maintained a very consistent position, but if your concern is weaponization, we should talk about that. When President Biden stood at the White House podium and said Elon Musk is worth being looked at and then all of a sudden the FCC abruptly reversed is a 2020 decision to get him $885 million to bring broadband to 640,000 people. I think that’s concerning. When Democrats in Congress write letters to cable companies, ask him to drop Fox News because of the decisions. I think that’s concerning. And so I think you’ve seen from my record a consistent pattern of always basing my decisions at the FCC based on the law, the facts and the First Amendment. That’s what I’ve done. That’s what I’ll always do.”

Watch the clip above via C-SPAN.