A small conservative legal group has been using direct access to the Federal Communications Commission chairman’s office to accelerate complaints against media critics, according to internal emails obtained by WIRED. The Center for American Rights (CAR) routed its filings to Chairman Brendan Carr’s senior counsel, sidestepping career staff who typically review such complaints.

The correspondence reveals how CAR supplied legal arguments used in challenges against broadcast networks. Kimmel was briefly suspended in September following threats from the FCC, drawing condemnation from press freedom advocates and First Amendment scholars.

Carr suggested that ABC affiliates could face regulatory scrutiny if they did not take action on Kimmel’s segment discussing the killing of Charlie Kirk. Such actions have influenced regulatory proceedings, with CAR's complaint against CBS over a 60 Minutes interview becoming leverage in the agency’s review of the Paramount-Skydance merger.

CARR's efforts have been described as an attempt to ensure broadcasters comply with their public interest obligations under the Communications Act. However, his methods raise questions about transparency and fairness in regulatory processes.