Lawmakers To Grill Pai Over Trump's Media Tweets

Ajit Pai

Democrats will get the chance to grill the chairman of the FCC over President Trump's tweets attacking media outlets during a hearing Wednesday.

According to The Hill, the House Commerce subcommittee on technology will hold its first FCC oversight hearing since the agency added two commissioners over the summer. And a new controversy involving the president will take center stage.

Earlier this month, Trump floated revoking the broadcast licenses of news organizations that have been critical in their coverage. He singled out NBC News, which had published a report he disputed claiming Trump had called for a massive buildup of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Democrats seized on the controversy and have called on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to condemn the proposal.

Pai addressed the controversy at an event last Tuesday when he noted that his agency does not have the authority to revoke broadcast licenses for the content of their reporting.

"I believe in the First Amendment. The FCC under my leadership, will stand for the First Amendment," he said.

But Democratic lawmakers say his response fell short. Pai can expect more tough questions from Democrats at Wednesday's hearing.