House Probes Biden-Harris Admin FCC For Soros Deal
In a letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) and Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-NY) questioned the agency’s decision to bypass protocol and fast-tracking Soros’ purchase of these radio stations, pointing out that this is a clear example of election interference.
“The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating an apparent attempt by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) majority to interfere in the 2024 election and politicize the work of the FCC,” the letter began. “The FCC appears to be bypassing standard processes and procedures in an unprecedented way to benefit a Democrat megadonor acquiring a major equity stake in hundreds of local radio stations across the country.”
Comer and Langworthy noted that Soros is “attempting to purchase $415 million in debt in a Chapter 11 reorganization of Audacy, Inc., a company that owns over 200 radio stations” — pointing out that if the purchase goes through, the Democrat megadonor and his company, Soros Fund Management, would become a “major” shareholder.
“The Audacy, Inc. deal, which will lead to Audacy, Inc. being partially ‘directly or indirectly controlled’ by foreign individuals or entities holding ‘more than one-fourth of the capital stock’ will require FCC approval to determine whether ‘the public interest will be served by the refusal or revocation of such license.’ In carrying out this statutory mandate under the Communications Act, FCC has years-long established processes and procedures for adjudicating broadcast licenses in such situations, most recently updated in 2016,” the letter added.
The document went on to cite recent testimony before the House Oversight Committee from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr — who confirmed that, regarding fast-tracking the Soros deal, the FCC “is not following its normal process for reviewing a transaction” and pointed out that “the full commission itself has never signed off on a shortcut like this.”
“What we usually do is we require people to file a petition with us. We bring in national security agencies, they can review the foreign ownership… Here, they’re trying to do something that’s never been done before at the commission level,” Carr added.
A typical national security review would take up to six months to conduct.
“Despite the unprecedented nature of this action, the FCC majority has apparently decided to approve licenses on an accelerated timeframe for a company in which George Soros has a major ownership stake, and with stations in 40 media markets reaching ‘more than 165 million Americans.’ By all appearances, the FCC majority isn’t just expediting, but is bypassing an established process to do a favor for George Soros and facilitate his influence over hundreds of radio stations before the November election,” the letter argued.
The House Oversight Committee has demanded that the FCC hand over all documents and communications related to Audacy Inc. or Soros Fund Management’s radio station licenses, as well as any documents or communications regarding FCC action taken related to those licenses. The committee also demanded that the FCC produce any documents and communications containing the terms “George Soros” or “Soros Fund Management.”
Meanwhile, Carr has been calling out the FCC’s shocking decision in posts on X, with one post reading: “The Commission’s decision today is unprecedented. Never before has the Commission voted to approve the transfer of a broadcast license—let alone the transfer of broadcast licenses for over 200 radio stations across more than 40 markets—without following the requirements and procedures codified in federal law.”
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