RSF Urges Impeachment of FCC Chair Brendan Carr

The organization said the call marks the first time in its 40-year history that it has sought the removal of a U.S. official. Clayton Weimers, executive director of RSF North America, said the alleged misconduct’s “severity and persistence” required an extraordinary response.

RSF accused Carr of weakening the FCC’s independence and investigating broadcasters that Trump has publicly criticized. The group cited inquiries involving NPR, PBS, ABC, CBS and NBC, as well as scrutiny of California radio station KCBS. It also pointed to Carr’s threat earlier this year to revoke licenses from networks accused by the administration of “news distortions,” which RSF said followed Trump’s complaint about coverage of the war on Iran.

The group also said Carr “likely violated the Hatch Act” by praising his government work at a rally for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan in Alaska. RSF and the Democracy Defenders Fund filed a complaint last month seeking an investigation into Carr’s appearance. RSF further criticized his efforts to roll back media-consolidation limits.

The impeachment call followed Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s demand for FCC records as part of an inquiry into whether the president’s and the commission’s actions undermine press and speech freedoms and affect media-consolidation laws. Jessica González, co-CEO of Free Press Action, welcomed the inquiry and said Carr’s conduct should result in his removal, “by impeachment if necessary.” Carr has not responded in the source material to the allegations.