by Casey Harper
Republican lawmakers on Monday launched an investigation into billionaire George Soros’s purchase of a gigantic share of U.S. radio stations.
Soros is a major donor to democracy and liberalism, whose purchase of American radio stations just before the elections raised eyebrows and attracted the interest of Congress.
The deal started with a gigantic radio company Audacity declared bankruptcy. Thanks to a complicated business deal, Soros took control of the stations.
Notably, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers said in a Monday announcement that the deal would put “25 percent of the company’s ownership indirectly in foreign hands,” which would normally trigger scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission.
However, this review was waived, allowing the transaction to be quickly tracked.
Rodgers led lawmakers in a letter to FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel demanding answers on the matter. The letter, signed by about 40 Republican lawmakers, is the latest congressional review of Soros’ purchases.
“We are writing to better understand the recent decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to waive foreign ownership rules in order to expedite the purchase of over 200 radio stations in the United States (U.S.) by a fund backed by the Democratic donor mega-democratic megagroup,” it said. leaves.
“This process appeared to deviate from the usual order in which the FCC has historically reviewed transactions under Section 310(a). b) of the Communications Act of 1934… and since this approval took place just before the presidential elections, the timing seems suspicious,” the letter reads. further.
As before, Central Square reportedHouse Speaker Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. and Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., sent a letter to Rosenworcel overdue last month expressing similar concerns.
“Despite the unprecedented nature of this action, the FCC majority appears to have chosen to approve licenses on an expedited basis for a company in which George Soros holds a majority stake and whose stations in 40 media markets reach ‘more than 165 million Americans,’” the letter said.
“It appears that 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,” the letter added.
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Casey Harper is a reporter for the Bureau of… Central Square.
Photo “Jessica Rosenworcel and the FCC” by Jessica Rosenworcel.
