Disney and ABC sue FCC over early license renewal process, claim retaliation from Trump

The Walt Disney Company, ABC and some of its stations filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Federal Communications Commission, asking the courts to block an early license renewal process they say is an attack by the Trump administration. In April, the FCC ordered the eight television stations that Disney owns and operates to file their broadcast license renewals ahead of schedule. The order came as the FCC was investigating ABC’s “The View” program to determine if it violated equal-time rules by hosting political candidates. The probe followed an appearance from Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. 
At the same time, Disney’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices were also under investigation, NBC News reported. The early renewal order also came after President Donald Trump criticized a joke about Melania Trump made by late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, which Trump believed was a veiled threat against him. 
The lawsuit cites social media posts from Trump, including one that said that late-night TV hosts are 100% negative toward Trump and asked if their broadcast license should be terminated. 
“Acting through the Federal Communications Commission, the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts,” the suit states.

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