Freedom of speech took center stage as Senator Ted Cruz used a Senate Commerce Science and Transportation Committee Hearing as an opportunity to warn the FCC Chairman.
Cruz broke with the Trump Administration in the aftermath of late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel's remarks following Charlie Kirk's assassination.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr suggested they could pull network licenses. Cruz compared Carr to a mafioso.
"Government officials threatening adverse consequences for disfavored content is an unconstitutional coercion that chills protected speech," Cruz said during the hearing Wednesday.
"Jimmy's remarks about Charlie Kirk were tasteless," Cruz said. "But what government cannot do is force private entities to take actions that the government cannot take directly."
Cruz mentioned other examples from previous administrations where conservatives were the target for censorship.
Carr agreed with Cruz that the FCC can't chill speech when there is a public interest.