US Senator Ted Cruz has accused the head of America's broadcast regulator of acting like a mafioso in the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel - the sharpest attack yet from a conservative Republican on the controversy.
He said Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr's threat to ABC over their comedian's monologue about slain conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was dangerous as hell.
That's right out of Goodfellas, the Texas Republican said, as he affected a mobster's accent.
Other Republicans in Congress have been more muted in their criticism of how the FCC pressed Disney-owned ABC to take action on Kimmel, who was indefinitely suspended on Wednesday.
The row started after Kimmel appeared to suggest in his monologue on Monday night that the alleged gunman charged with murdering Kirk was a Maga Republican, although authorities in Utah have said the suspect was indoctrinated with leftist ideology.
Before ABC's decision, Carr said there would be consequences if Kimmel stayed on air. The FCC chairman said that Kimmel was appearing to directly mislead the American public in his on-air remarks.
On his podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz, the senator emphasized on Friday that he hated what Kimmel said about Kirk and he is thrilled that he was fired. However, he cautioned that Carr's threats were detrimental to free speech.
Cruz warned that if the government gets into the business of bans and regulating what the media says, it would ultimately harm conservatives. He drew parallels to organized crime, emphasizing the dangers of government interference.
In contrast to Cruz's stance, President Donald Trump defended Carr, marking a rare disagreement with Cruz, his usual colleague. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina echoed Cruz's sentiments, condemning Carr's behavior
The political landscape has been shaken further by Kirk's recent assassination, with Congress emphasizing caution around government regulation and freedom of speech in response to these events.
Graphic developments unfolded as Kimmel's colleagues rallied in support of him, while related incidents of violence unfold, raising concerns about media freedom as tensions rise.
