FCC I-G: No Evidence Pai Misled Congress

Ajit Pai

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai did not mislead lawmakers about a conversation with the White House counsel over the proposed Sinclair Broad Group and Tribune Media merger, the agency's watchdog said Monday.

The Office of the Inspector General, which conducted the investigation, said in a statement that its investigation found no evidence that Pai acted improperly by not disclosing the call with former White House Counsel Don McGahn during a July hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) previously called on the Inspector General to open the investigation, asking the office to look into whether Pai made “material omissions and failed to disclose” the phone call.

Pallone had asked Pai during the July hearing if he would "commit to disclosing" any communications he had with the White House about the proposed merger between Sinclair and Tribune.

Pai revealed to the Senate in August that McGahn had asked him about the status of the merger before the July hearing.

The watchdog found that Pai had not mislead lawmakers at the House hearing and had promised to disclose discussions per the agency's rules.

Pai in July said that he had serious concerns about the proposed Sinclair-Tribune merger, effectively killing the deal. In August, Tribune backed out of the deal and sued Sinclair.

FCC spokesman Brian Hart said in a statement Monday hailed the Inspector General's findings.

"We are pleased that the Office of Inspector General has confirmed for a second time that there were no improper actions taken during the Sinclair-Tribune review process and that the investigation has concluded,” Hart said.