Republicans in the House Oversight Committee have given the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) a hard deadline to provide documents related to what it has deemed as a potential attempt to "interfere" in the elections by granting expedited approval to the purchasing of over 200 radio stations.
Concretely, Committee Chairman James Comer and Rep. Nick Langworthy said that George Soros, who has historically donated to the Democratic Party, is attempting to "purchase $415 million in debt in a Chapter 11 reorganization of Audacy, Inc., a company that owns over 200 radio stations."
The letter, addressed at FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, claims that Soros is also a "financier of organizations advocating for speech restrictions and censorship of conservatives online."
It adds that FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr noted during a recent hearing that the review process for the acquisition of Audacity, Inc. is "not following" the usual steps. "'The full commission itself has never signed off on a shortcut like this,'" he said in reference to foreign ownership of media companies, considering Soros is Hungarian.
Today, @GOPOversight Chairman @RepJamesComer and I are investigating the FCC’s actions to fast-track Democrat megadonor George Soros’ purchase of 200 radio stations.
— Congressman Nick Langworthy (@RepLangworthy) September 26, 2024
The American people won’t stand for backroom deals designed to silence conservative voices and rig our media… pic.twitter.com/y2yvFILIA8
"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 majority ownership stake, and with stations in 40 media markets reaching more than 165 million Americans," the document claims.
With that in mind, the Republican lawmakers say that the FCC is appearing to "just expediting, but bypassing an established process to do a favor for George Soros and facilitate his influence over hundreds of radio stations before the November elections."
They therefore give the FCC until October 3 to provide documents and communications related to licenses associated with Audacy, Inc. or Soros Fund Management, to actions taken by the FCC related to the licenses and "all documents and communications containing the term "George Soros" or the term "Soros Fund Management."
An FCC spokesperson told Fox News Digital that they received the letter and "will respond as we regularly do." Regarding the Audacy transaction, the person said that "no decision is final until the Commission releases it, which we have not."
"Commission-level releases are made available on the main page of the Commission's website. On a more general note, the Commission has a long-standing process for reviewing transactions that involve emergence from bankruptcy."
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