by John Solomon
The House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Thursday launched an investigation into the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) expedited approval of a deal that would give Democratic megadonor George Soros a enormous stake in more than 200 U.S. radio stations, saying the body tried to “interfere in the 2024 elections and politicize” a body that is supposed to be independent.
The investigation announced by Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., began after FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr revealed to Congress last week that the commission’s review of the Soros-backed Audacy purchase “shortcut” around normal procedures for reviewing station transactions that may result in significant foreign ownership or control.
“The FCC appears to be unprecedentedly bypassing standard processes and procedures to benefit a Democratic megadonor by acquiring major ownership interests in hundreds of local radio stations across the country,” the lawmakers wrote.
The committee described Soros as a “financier of organizations advocating for restrictions on speech and censorship of conservatives on the Internet” and said the group he was associated with tried to buy $415 million in debt as part of the Chapter 11 reorganization of Audacy, Inc., which is owner of over 200 radio stations.
“It appears the FCC majority is not only rushing but bypassing the established process to do a favor for George Soros and make it easier for him to influence hundreds of radio stations ahead of the November election” – Comer and Langworthy he wrote.
The FCC denied any wrongdoing in its review, but Carr, a Republican, called the way the commission adopted the radio contract unprecedented.
“The FCC is not following its normal process for reviewing transactions,” Carr said last week. “Over many years, we have developed one way to obtain FCC approval for more than 25% foreign ownership, which is the case with this transaction. “I think the FCC is ready to create a completely new acronym for the first time.”
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John Solomon is an award-winning investigative journalist, author and digital media entrepreneur who serves as CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Just the News. Before founding Just the News, Solomon played key reporting and leadership roles at some of America’s most essential journalism institutions, including The Associated Press, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Newsweek, The Daily Beast and The Hill.
Photo “George Soros” by Niccolo Caranti CC3.0.
