FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is under investigation over improper relationship with Sinclair...

[William Gayde]

The Federal Communications Commission last year updated its broadcasting ownership regulations just weeks before Sinclair Broadcasting announced its plan to purchase Tribune Media. While the timeline for these two events may have been a coincidence, many watchdog groups disagree. In an official investigation uncovered by The New York Times, it turns out that even top officials at the FCC have reason to believe that something wasn't right.

Representative Frank Pallone of New Jersey told the Times the FCC's inspector general opened an investigation into FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and his relationships with Sinclair Broadcasting. The investigation is focused on whether or not there was any coordination between Pai, Sinclair and Trump.

“For months I have been trying to get to the bottom of the allegations about Chairman Pai’s relationship with Sinclair Broadcasting,” Pallone said. “I am grateful to the F.C.C.’s inspector general that he has decided to take up this important investigation.”

This investigation was originally requested by two representatives who were concerned that Pai and the FCC showed "a pattern and practice of preferential treatment" towards Sinclair.

Most believe the industry regulations were repealed largely to help the Sinclair-Tribune deal go through since they do not serve to benefit the public at all. If the deal went through, this would make Sinclair the largest television broadcaster in the country with an audience of nearly 70 percent of American households. Sinclair has been strongly criticized, most notably by John Oliver, for their politically motivated programming decisions and infamous "must-run" segments.

When the repeals were passed, Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley called Pai's easing of the regulations "groundbreaking." Both Sinclair and the FCC have declined to comment on the current investigation but called the original allegations "baseless." A previous investigation by the Times uncovered secret meetings between Pai, his staff and Sinclair executives in the weeks prior to Pai's appointment as chairman.

The acquisition is still pending but the shadow of an ongoing investigation is likely to delay it even further.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/73315-fcc-chairman-ajit-pai-under-investigation-over-improper.html

 

[Evernessince]

Well yes, allowing big news conglomerates to pose as "local news" without actually having a local presence was also a bad idea. Who in their right mind would also want that same company to control such a large marketshare?

 

[OneSpeed]

Just too much corruption.

 

[Cycloid Torus]

Worth a look, but investigation is not indictment.

 

[hk2000]

Must be nice to be this corrupt and still be able to claim having the party of high morals. ever since libertarians infiltrated the Republican party, it lost all of its credibility!

 

[dogofwars]

Well instead of a thousand flea going up is *** might be a thousand of cops LOL.

 

[wiyosaya]

Surprise, Surprise!! Who would have thunk it? /sarcasm

 

[Athlonite]

LIke most FFC chairs they've all been connected to high positions previously occupied in big business that they've favoured rules for once becoming FCC chairperson

 

[Evernessince]

LIke most FFC chairs they've all been connected to high positions previously occupied in big business that they've favoured rules for once becoming FCC chairperson

That's patently incorrectly. I seem to remember Tom Wheeler (The last FCC commissioner) also being from the industry but going for rules it directly opposed. Don't try to paint what Pai has done as normal, it isn't in any sense of the word.

 

[mrtraver]

I literally laughed out loud. But too bad that in this era of zero accountability this isn't going anywhere.

 

[Joe Blow]

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton still walks for doing things a thousand times worse.

 

[kapital98]

LIke most FFC chairs they've all been connected to high positions previously occupied in big business that they've favoured rules for once becoming FCC chairperson

That's patently incorrectly. I seem to remember Tom Wheeler (The last FCC commissioner) also being from the industry but going for rules it directly opposed. Don't try to paint what Pai has done as normal, it isn't in any sense of the word.

It's hard to argue he would be the chairman under any other administration. He's the most unqualified to hold the position. His appointment was out of patronage rather than expertise.

 

[Kashim]

The deal is going through, it's pretty much guaranteed. They can investigate all they want, nothing will come of it. The orange clown in the white house might throw a twitter tantrum over it with the usual "fake news", "rigged system", "drain the swamp" idiocy until the next scandal breaks.

 

[Bubbajim]

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton still walks for doing things a thousand times worse.

I wish Techspot had a 'follow' feature. Your comments are always brilliant to read. Just not in the way I think you intend them to be.

 

[mailpup]

I wish Techspot had a 'follow' feature.

It does. Go to the member profile page and find the "Follow" link.

 

[Girus]

Umm... well.. DUH!
I bet the investigators are in on it too. They're all playing dumb and taking it slow. Nothing's gonna come of it. The change will be reversed but it will have been too late and the most the investigation will do is cause him to lose his job.. which he probably was expecting to anyway. But he will be sitting on a huge pile of money afterwards.

 

[wiyosaya]

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton still walks for doing things a thousand times worse.

Well, we should immediately stop investigating Pai, and spend several tens of millions of dollars more on another Hillary investigation and find, yet again, nothing chargeable! Brilliant! That will serve justice in the US and MAGA!

 

[senketsu]

..........snip.......the most the investigation will do is cause him to lose his job.. which he probably was expecting to anyway. But he will be sitting on a huge pile of money afterwards.

exactly, all that money that greased his palm plus a nice paying job as lobbyist or with even Sinclair. These guys in government always walk (away instead of being behind bars)

 

[Lifeispossible]

At least pai gets death threats supposedly (source beme news) sucks that his kids get bullied but him idc

 

[captaincranky]

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton still walks for doing things a thousand times worse.

Just so you know, "special prosecutors", have egos as big as the people they're investigating. Which means, they'll milk the job as long as possible, just so they can remain in the spotlight.

"Stand back, here I am. I have the power over the rest of your life. Yeah, that's the ticket"! I'm going to make you as miserable as I can, for as long as I can.". So sayest the special counsel, as he pockets $1,000.00 dollars an hour for his "wisdom".

 

[captaincranky]

exactly, all that money that greased his palm plus a nice paying job as lobbyist or with even Sinclair. These guys in government always walk (away instead of being behind bars)

Well, save for John Dean, John Haldeman, and G. Gordon Liddy, and possibly a couple of others.

(Hope I got the names right from memory, it's been damned near 50 years since "Watergate")..

Oh, and they just canned the Philadelphia District Attorney, Seth Williams for a nickel, for cashing his granny's Social Security checks..(y)

 

[wiyosaya]

exactly, all that money that greased his palm plus a nice paying job as lobbyist or with even Sinclair. These guys in government always walk (away instead of being behind bars)

Only when the president pardons them.

 

[Evernessince]

Only when the president pardons them.

Who says they even need a pardon? Just look at how that equifax probe is going, nowhere.

 

[captaincranky]

Only when the president pardons them.

But then who's going to pardon him??

 

[Evernessince]

But then who's going to pardon him??

Himself of course!