FCC Chair Faces Ethics Complaint Over Merger Comments

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, July 30, 2025 | 9:57am CT

FCC Chair Brendan Carr

The Freedom of the Press Foundation has filed an ethics complaint against FCC Chair Brendan Carr, alleging misconduct tied to the agency's recent approval of the Paramount-Skydance merger. As reported by The Hill, the complaint accuses Carr -- a close ally of President Trump -- of abusing his position and undermining First Amendment protections.

Filed Monday with the District of Columbia Court of Appeals' Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the complaint centers on Carr's public comments and actions leading up to the FCC's approval of the $8 billion merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media. The foundation argues that Carr's conduct "brazenly violates legal and ethical standards" and calls for his disbarment.

"Everyone from U.S. senators to CBS employees to a dissenting FCC commissioner has said the settlement appears to have been a bribe to grease the wheels for Carr's FCC to approve the merger," the complaint reads.

As part of the merger, Paramount -- CBS's parent company -- agreed to pay $16 million to the Trump Foundation, while the new Skydance-led ownership made a number of concessions. These included the appointment of an ombudsman to monitor CBS News coverage for objectivity -- an element Carr publicly applauded.

"Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly," Carr said while announcing the FCC's approval of the deal. "It is time for a change."

The complaint also points to Carr's prior criticism of CBS News, particularly over its reporting on Trump, and suggests that he used his regulatory authority to influence broadcast licensees to align with partisan interests.

"Carr has pursued numerous other frivolous and unconstitutional legal proceedings and threatened more of them... to intimidate broadcast licensees to censor themselves and fall in line with Trump's agenda," the foundation claims.

The Freedom of the Press Foundation argues that Carr's conduct "undermines the First Amendment, the FCC's credibility and the laws he is trusted to administer," and constitutes an abuse of office.