Watchdog Files DC Bar Complaint Over Brendan Carr’s Threats to Broadcasters
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 23, 2025
Contact: Michael Clauw, mclauw@campaignforaccountability.org, 202.780.5750
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Campaign for Accountability (CfA) filed a bar complaint asking the District of Columbia Office of Disciplinary Counsel and the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission to investigate Brendan Carr, a member of both the D.C. and Maryland bars, and current Chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for potential violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers.
Mr. Carr’s recent actions—invoking his regulatory authority to publicly demand ABC/Disney terminate late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for his commentary, threatening to investigate broadcasters that air political content with which Mr. Carr disagrees, and claiming Mr. Kimmel’s statement regarding Charlie Kirk constitutes news distortion—may violate numerous Rules.
CfA Executive Director Michelle Kuppersmith said, “By making explicit threats against Disney as well as ABC broadcasters, who currently have business pending before the FCC, Mr. Carr may have violated FCC law and the First Amendment. It is incumbent on bar counsel in both the District of Columbia and Maryland to investigate whether Mr. Carr’s actions also may have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct.”
In September 2025, following remarks by Mr. Kimmel about the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Mr. Carr invoked his role as FCC Commissioner to suggest potential adverse regulatory consequences for local ABC affiliates should they continue to air Mr. Kimmel’s show. Soon after, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcasting announced that their ABC affiliate stations would stop airing the show. Following those announcements, Disney indefinitely halted production of Mr. Kimmel’s show.
Mr. Carr’s statements were condemned across the political spectrum, including by GOP Senator Ted Cruz, who likened the effect of Carr’s threats to a “mafioso coming into a bar going, nice bar you have here, it’d be a shame if something happened to it.”
Beyond an apparent violation of constitutional free speech rights, Mr. Carr’s actions appear to violate DC Rule 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct that seriously interferes with the administration of justice), Rule 8.4(e) (stating or implying an ability to improperly influence a government agency or official), and Rule 4.4(a) (using means that serve no substantial purpose other than to embarrass, delay, or burden a third person).
Ms. Kuppersmith continued, “Mr. Carr’s actions undermine public trust in not only the agency he leads, but in government neutrality across the board. We implore the DC and Maryland Bar Counsels to conduct thorough investigations into Mr. Carr’s conduct and impose any appropriate disciplinary measures.”
Campaign for Accountability is a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog organization that uses research, litigation, and aggressive communications to expose misconduct and malfeasance in public life and hold those who act at the expense of the public good accountable for their actions.