Senate Panel Approves Bill Allowing Suits Over Government Pressure on Speech

The Senate Commerce Committee voted 18-10 on September 16 for a bill allowing citizens to sue federal officials who pressure private companies to suppress First Amendment-protected speech. It still must pass the full Senate and House. Sen. Maria Cantwell said Jimmy Kimmel could have sued FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who she said pressured station owners to stop airing Kimmel after comments on Charlie Kirk's killing. In April, a day after President Donald Trump called for Kimmel's firing, Carr ordered early review of eight Disney-owned ABC licenses not due until October 2028 — the first such early FCC review in over 50 years. Trump has repeatedly sought to revoke ABC licenses and this month urged FCC action against NBC's Kristen Welker. Sen. Ted Cruz cited Biden-era pressure on tech firms over vaccine mandates and election fraud claims and said of Carr's license threats last year: "This is straight out of the movie 'Goodfellas.' This is how a mobster would act – walking into a bar and saying, 'Nice bar you have here. It would be a shame if something happened to it.'" Contested: Rated coverage does not dispute the vote tally or bill text; right-rated Tulsa World foregrounded Trump administration threats against late-night shows. The measure's schedule in the full Senate is not yet known.