"the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or...through private intermediaries."
"These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead."
"What he did to Jimmy Kimmel he is doing to person after person, to network after network - intimidating them and threatening them."
"This just isn't something the chair of the FCC ought to be doing, policing comedy shows."
Free speech experts said Kimmel could have a strong legal case against Carr, especially after the Supreme Court's unanimous decision in May that public officials can't use their power to punish speech. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that "the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or...through private intermediaries." Carr warned that companies could take action on Kimmel or face "additional work for the FCC ahead." Alex Abdo called Carr's comments "the definition of unconstitutional coercion." Eugene Volokh said Kimmel may avoid suing for business reasons but the FCC chair should not be policing comedy. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for Carr's resignation or firing and urged the president to remove him.
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