Schumer says Kimmel should take Trump, FCC, Disney to Court

WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., urged comedian Jimmy Kimmel to take legal action Wednesday after ABC indefinitely suspended Kimmel's late-night show.

"America is meant to be a bastion of free speech. Everybody across the political spectrum should be speaking out to stop what's happening to Jimmy Kimmel. This is about protecting democracy. This must go to court," Schumer posted on X.

ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Co., suspended "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" following comments Kimmel made about the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk. In his Monday monologue, Kimmel said, "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it."

Kirk was killed last Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Authorities identified 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the suspect. He is held without bail in Utah County Jail, facing an aggravated murder charge filed Tuesday. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty.

Hours before the suspension, FCC Chair Brendan Carr criticized Kimmel’s remarks, calling them "the sickest conduct possible" in an interview with podcaster Benny Johnson. Carr suggested the FCC could revoke ABC affiliate licenses as punishment.

Nexstar Media Group, which owns about 10% of the roughly 225 ABC affiliate stations nationwide, announced it would preempt Kimmel’s show starting Wednesday "for the foreseeable future." Nexstar is seeking FCC approval for a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna, which controls about 5% of ABC affiliates.

Carr warned Disney of potential FCC action, stating, "They have a license granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest."