Sen Blumenthal opens inquiry into Paramount over Colbert interview

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Amid controversy over "Late Present" host Stephen Colbert’s declare that he was barred from airing his interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico final week, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., opened an official inquiry into CBS’ guardian firm, Paramount, on Monday requesting "all data" associated to the choice.

Talarico's interview on "The Late Present" final week sparked controversy after Colbert accused CBS of blocking the interview amid what he described because the FCC's crackdown on the longstanding candidate equal time rule.

CBS denied Colbert's declare, telling Fox Information Digital final week, "THE LATE SHOW was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal speaks to press exterior the Senate Chambers within the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 27, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Photographs)

In a letter to Paramount CEO David Ellison, solely printed by Standing, Blumenthal — the rating member of the Senate's Everlasting Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) — demanded all documentation and communications associated to the corporate's resolution to not air Colbert's interview with Talarico.

The senator argued that Paramount's resolution "raises the alarming prospect" that the corporate is "keen to silence free speech" in hopes of currying favor with the Trump administration.

"I write concerning Paramount’s obvious willingness to censor essential information and satire on the behest of the President, significantly as it's trying to accumulate Warner Bros. partially by selling its shut ties to the White Home," the letter reads.

"Paramount’s acquiescence to political strain from Federal Communications Fee ('FCC') Chair Brendan Carr, stopping Stephen Colbert from airing an interview with Texas U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, raises the alarming prospect that Paramount is keen to silence free speech to elicit political favors from the Trump Administration," Blumenthal continues.

"I due to this fact write to request data and knowledge associated to Paramount’s communications with the FCC and the White Home, and its interventions into the editorial choices of The Late Present with Stephen Colbert," the letter added.

JASMINE CROCKETT REVEALS COLBERT HASN'T INVITED HER ON SHOW SINCE FUROR OVER TALARICO INTERVIEW

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr speaks onstage throughout the 2025 Concordia Annual Summit at Sheraton New York Instances Sq. on Sept. 22, 2025, in New York Metropolis. (John Lamparski/Getty Photographs for Concordia Annual Summit)

Blumenthal claimed that the "longstanding exception" to the equal time rule for "information interviews" has allowed exhibits like Colbert's "to interview candidates the ultimate time for a number of a long time."

Regardless of this obvious exception, the Senator contended that "CBS apparently abruptly selected to make use of the FCC announcement to strain or require Mr. Colbert to cease the printed of the interview."

"FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s announcement clearly seeks to insert the FCC into broadcasters’ editorial choices by declaring that it'll implement the equal time rule over what it deems as programming ‘motivated by partisan functions,’ focusing on what the Chair Carr labeled ‘the pretend information,’" Blumenthal wrote.

"As FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez said, whereas the legality of the steering is questionable, ‘it does characterize an escalation on this FCC’s ongoing marketing campaign to censor and management speech,’ a place taken by different consultants in FCC regulation," he added.

The FCC introduced in late January it was offering steering to broadcast networks to stick to the "statutory equal alternatives requirement," citing the Communications Act of 1934, "together with their airing of late evening and daytime discuss exhibits."

Blumenthal argued that the FCC's "distortion of the equal time rule" represented a "radical departure from Congressional intent and a long time of rulings from Democrat and Republican-led Commissions," together with rulings that discovered Phil Donahue, Jerry Springer, Howard Stern and Jay Leno "have been exempt."

FCC CHAIR RIPS COLBERT 'HOAX' AFTER CBS DENIED BLOCKING TALARICO INTERVIEW, SAYS MEDIA FELL FOR IT

"The Late Present with Stephen Colbert" throughout Wednesday's June 25, 2025, present. (Scott Kowalchyk/CBS through Getty Photographs)

In a while within the letter, the senator questioned why Paramount determined to "preemptively comply, quite than get up for the First Modification and problem any tried enforcement," demanding data of communications between the corporate and the FCC, together with "any makes an attempt" to obey the rule.

When reached for remark by Fox Information Digital, a spokesperson for Paramount replied with the next assertion: "Now we have obtained the letter and are reviewing it rigorously. We respect and respect the Senator's curiosity on this difficulty."

"As CBS famous earlier than: ‘THE LATE SHOW was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico. The present was offered authorized steering that the printed may set off the FCC equal-time rule for 2 different candidates, together with Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and introduced choices for the way the equal time for different candidates might be fulfilled. THE LATE SHOW determined to current the interview via its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the printed quite than doubtlessly offering the equal-time choices,’" it added.