US Senator Ted Cruz has accused the head of America's broadcast regulator of acting like 'a mafioso' in the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel - the sharpest attack yet from a conservative Republican on the controversy.
He said Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr's threat to ABC over their comedian's monologue about slain conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was 'dangerous as hell'.
'That's right out of Goodfellas,' the Texas Republican said, as he affected a mobster's accent.
Other Republicans in Congress have been more muted in their criticism of how the FCC pressed Disney-owned ABC to take action on Kimmel, who was indefinitely suspended on Wednesday.
The row started after Kimmel appeared to suggest in his monologue on Monday night that the alleged gunman charged with murdering Kirk was a Maga Republican, although authorities in Utah have said the suspect was 'indoctrinated with leftist ideology'.
Before ABC's decision, Carr said there would be consequences if Kimmel stayed on air. The FCC chairman said that Kimmel was 'appearing to directly mislead the American public' in his on-air remarks.
On his podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz, the senator emphasised on Friday that he hated what Kimmel said about Kirk, and he is 'thrilled that he was fired'. He also said Carr was 'a good guy'.
'But what he [Carr] said there is dangerous as hell,' Cruz added. 'And so he threatens, explicitly, we're going to cancel ABC's licence.' Cruz argued that government intervention in media could ultimately backfire on conservatives.
In the Oval Office, President Donald Trump defended Carr and expressed disagreement with Cruz, underscoring the complexities within the Republican response. Other GOP senators have echoed Cruz's sentiments regarding Carr's comments.
As the US grapples with issues of free speech and media regulation, the conversation surrounding Kimmel's suspension continues to evolve amid various political and cultural dynamics.
