Blumenthal wants FCC to pledge support of free speech

HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal says he plans to ask members of the Federal Communications Commission to publicly affirm their support for the First Amendment amid the president’s threat to pull NBC’s broadcast license.

The Democrat is expected to release a letter on Monday calling on each member to provide a personal commitment to freedom of the press, which is protected under the First Amendment. A news conference is scheduled at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Blumenthal says the FCC, not Trump, has the authority to approve broadcaster licenses and cannot base its decisions on its dislike of the content of speech or programming. He says FCC must reassure the nation.

Trump is threatening NBC’s broadcast licenses because he’s not happy with how its news division has covered him.