Trump pulls re-nomination of FCC Republican who stood up for First Amendment

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

The White House yesterday withdrew its re-nomination of Federal Communications Commission member Michael O'Rielly, a Republican who has not supported President Trump's attempt to punish social media websites for alleged anti-conservative bias.

Trump had nominated O'Rielly to another five-year FCC term in March, and the nomination was awaiting Senate approval. But the White House unexpectedly withdrew O'Rielly's nomination, "announc[ing] the action Monday in a notice sent to the Senate, which confirms nominees," Bloomberg reported. "The notice didn't provide a reason for the decision."

O'Rielly's term technically expired in June 2019, but FCC rules allow him to stay through the end of 2020 even if he isn't re-confirmed by the Senate. O'Rielly has been on the FCC since 2013.

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