US Senator Ted Cruz has criticized the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, for his actions regarding the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Cruz described Carr’s conduct as resembling that of a “mafioso” in a statement regarding Kimmel’s comments about the murder of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. Kimmel’s indefinite suspension from ABC followed a monologue in which he addressed the political implications surrounding Kirk’s death. Cruz called Carr’s threats to ABC “dangerous” and akin to tactics observed in mob films.
The controversy was prompted by Kimmel’s remarks during his Monday night show, during which he accused a political group associated with former President Trump of manipulating Kirk’s murder for political gain. Kimmel compared Trump’s expression of grief to a child’s reaction to losing a pet, which Carr labeled as “sick” and asserted that Kimmel misled the public. Critics from the conservative spectrum argue that Kimmel’s statements inaccurately framed the motives of the alleged murderer. The exact motivations behind the murder are not yet clear, despite prior comments from the Utah governor suggesting the suspect was influenced by “leftist ideology.”
While some Republican lawmakers have echoed Cruz’s sentiments, others have been more cautious. Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas highlighted the importance of free speech in this context, cautioning against actions that may infringe upon it. Additionally, South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds approached the issue from an employer-employee perspective. Kimmel has not yet issued a public statement about his suspension.
Following Kirk’s tragic death, the Senate passed a resolution to honor his birthday as a day of remembrance. Concurrently, police in Sacramento reported gunfire directed at an ABC affiliate building, but no injuries occurred; the motive behind the shooting remains uncertain. ABC10, part of Nexstar, canceled Kimmel’s show in its markets, citing his controversial remarks as the reason.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1kwzgrwdd0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss