Gomez Condemns Calls for FCC Probe Into CBS Trump Interview
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez pushed back Tuesday on comments from Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, her aide Jonathan Uriarte and others suggesting that the agency could open a news distortion proceeding against CBS over its edits to a recent interview with President Donald Trump (see 2511030048). In online posts, both Uriarte and Schumer said that because the FCC targeted CBS for editing its interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris, its policies require it to treat the Trump interview similarly.
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“Just as it was inappropriate for the FCC to revive the complaint against 60 minutes for the interview of Vice President Harris, it would be inappropriate for the FCC to initiate a complaint against 60 Minutes for editing the interview of the President,” Gomez said in an emailed statement. “Edits for clarity or brevity are standard practice in journalism.” Gomez’s office said Tuesday that Uriarte was furloughed and not acting in his official capacity when he made his post. Uriarte told us Tuesday that he agreed with Gomez that it's inappropriate to call for investigations and said his post was pointing out the standard already set by the FCC.
The FCC “does not have the authority, the ability, or the constitutional right to go after broadcasters for their content,” Gomez said. “The Communications Act prohibits the Commission from censoring broadcasters and the First Amendment protects journalistic decisions against government intimidation. Our country needs a press free from interference from regulators like me.”