Democratic senators press Nexstar, Sinclair over Kimmel preemption, warn it could violate federal law

Democratic senators are pressing Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group over decisions to preempt ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! on local stations, arguing the moves could threaten First Amendment protections and potentially run afoul of federal law amid ongoing regulatory matters with the Trump administration.

Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland on Tuesday sent letters to Nexstar chairman Perry Sook and Sinclair chief executive Christopher Ripley, requesting detailed explanations and urging answers by Oct. 7. The letters criticized the timing of the preemption, noting that Kimmel had previously made comments about the reaction to the death of Charlie Kirk, which sparked conservative backlash and drew attention from the Federal Communications Commission.

ABC, which broadcasts Kimmel’s late-night show, returned the program to the network on Tuesday, but the show remained unavailable on Nexstar- and Sinclair-owned ABC affiliates in numerous markets. As a result, roughly one-quarter of U.S. households served by ABC did not see the show in those markets. The letters describe how, shortly after FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s remarks, ABC along with Nexstar and Sinclair appeared to align with the administration’s stance, a move the senators say could have influenced regulatory reviews. President Donald Trump publicly praised the decision.

Disney, which owns ABC, reversed course on Monday following widespread backlash and announced that Kimmel would be restored on the network. Nexstar, however, indicated it would continue to preempt the program in key markets, and Sinclair had not yet specified a full path to reinstate the show. The senators emphasized that the actions by Nexstar and Sinclair occurred while each company had regulatory matters pending before the FCC: Nexstar’s planned mega-merger with Tegna, and Sinclair’s broader strategy to expand ownership and revise caps on television stations.

The senators framed the issue as one of potential improper influence, warning that suspending a late-night program in exchange for regulatory relief could trample First Amendment rights and raise concerns under federal anti-corruption laws and the Communications Act’s public-interest standard. They highlighted the dual pressures of corporate consolidation and regulatory approvals as reasons to scrutinize whether the decisions were motivated by or tied to the companies’ deals with the government.

In their letters, the lawmakers asked Nexstar and Sinclair to disclose whether private discussions occurred with FCC officials, including Carr, and whether any promises of regulatory favors were offered or discussed in connection with the preemption. They also requested specifics on which executives were involved, the timing and nature of any discussions about preemption, and whether any conversations touched on the Tegna merger or other pending transactions. The letters further inquired about steps the companies are taking to ensure that their broadcast operations continue to meet the public convenience, interest, and necessity standard while pursuing regulatory approvals.

Sinclair responded that it would continue to preempt Kimmel’s show as it evaluates how to move forward with ABC, while Nexstar did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the network group pointed Fox News Digital to an earlier statement from Sinclair. The lawmakers closed by reiterating their view that suspending a comedian critical of the administration could be used to curry favor with regulators and urged a full accounting to determine whether federal laws were violated or circumvented.

The episode comes amid broader scrutiny of media consolidation and regulatory policy under the current administration and the FCC. Nexstar’s pending agreement to acquire Tegna and Sinclair’s ongoing efforts to shape ownership rules reflect a landscape in which corporate strategy and regulatory review are closely intertwined. While Disney moved to restore Kimmel, the actions of Nexstar and Sinclair in the weeks that followed drew fresh attention to how station ownership, policy guidelines, and political dynamics intersect in the modern U.S. broadcasting environment.

As this story develops, observers will watch whether the senators’ questions prompt formal investigations or further inquiries by regulators and what impact, if any, the letters have on the fate of pending mergers and broadcast-policy discussions. The case underscores ongoing debates about the balance between corporate interests, free expression, and the role of federal oversight in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

The debate taps into broader questions about how regulatory decisions interact with corporate leverage in a politically charged media environment, and whether actions taken in the name of public interest are insulated from political and economic pressures. As Nexstar and Sinclair navigate their pending deals, the questions raised by the senators will likely echo in Washington scrutiny of broadcast ownership, regulatory processes, and the evolving responsibilities of large media groups in a highly polarized political climate.