Elizabeth Warren Denounces 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Blockage by Nexstar, Sinclair: 'Reeks of Corruption'
Sen. Elizabeth Warren accused Nexstar and Sinclair of potentially “running afoul of anti-corruption law” in their continued preemption of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” as the late-night program returns to ABC on Tuesday.
Joining Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in an open letter addressed to Nexstar Media Group chairman Perry A. Sook and Sinclair Broadcast Group president and CEO Christopher S. Ripley on Tuesday, Warren lambasted the decision to not air Kimmel’s return amid Nexstar’s pending mega-merger with competing broadcast group Tegna and other outstanding acquisitions from Sinclair, the nation’s second-largest broadcaster.
“If you suspended a late-night comedian’s show in part to seek regulatory favors from the administration, you have not only assisted the administration in eroding First Amendment freedoms but also create the appearance of a possible quid-pro-quo arrangement that could implicate federal anti-corruption laws,” the letter reads of the companies’ relationship with the Federal Communications Commission and its President Donald Trump-allied chair, Brendan Carr.
The senators demanded further transparency around the broadcast companies’ decision to preempt “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” despite ABC bringing the host back on air.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/elizabeth-warren-denounces-jimmy-kimmel-002933565.html