FCC Republican has “deep reservations” about Trump’s social media crackdown

Enlarge / FCC Commissioner Michael O'Rielly speaks during an FCC meeting in Washington, DC, on November 16, 2017. (credit: Getty Images | Bloomberg)

President Trump has some convincing to do in order to get his social media crackdown through the Federal Communications Commission.

Michael O'Rielly, part of the FCC's 3-2 Republican majority, says he has doubts about whether the FCC has authority to implement Trump's order regarding Twitter and other online platforms. With Republican Commissioner Brendan Carr having enthusiastically endorsed Trump's executive order and Democrats opposed to it, the views of O'Rielly and Chairman Ajit Pai will play a big role in determining the outcome.

O'Rielly discussed the topic on C-SPAN last week, saying he won't take a position until he has researched the topic more thoroughly. "I haven't taken a position because I have to do my homework," O'Rielly said, adding that he has "deep reservations" that the FCC has authority to act as Trump directed.

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