Olympic Times

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), a member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, denounced House Democrats who asked media carriers about their policy toward news networks that spread misinformation. She likens them to the Chinese Communist Party.

McMorris Rodgers criticized Reps. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.) and Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.), for sending a letter to television carriers questioning why they carry news channels that spread misinformation.

“Elected officials using their platform to pressure private companies to censor media outlets they disagree with — that sounds a lot like actions from the Chinese Communist Party, not duly-elected representatives of the United States Congress,” McMorris Rodgers said during a committee hearing on disinformation and extremism in the media, The Epoch Times reported. 

“Here we cherish free speech and a free independent press. We believe in dialogue and in the battle of ideas. Rather than censor and silence constitutionally protected speech, the answer is more speech. That’s the American way," Rodgers added.

The letter by the two Democratic members to 12 cable, satellite, and streaming companies accused the companies of not taking steps to combat the spread of what “misinformation.” They demanded to know why carriers were offering services to Fox, News and One America News. 

They claim the conservative news channels misinformed the public about COVID-19 and voter fraud after the 2020 general election. Rodgers called this an attack on the First Amendment. 

“It’s foundational to our personal rights and liberties. So, we should all be troubled today on what appears to be an attack on the First Amendment by elected officials to coerce private companies to censor political speech,” she said, according to The Epoch Times.

One America News President Charles Herring echoed those sentiments.

"When government officials want to silence media, especially media that opposes their false narratives, it’s nothing short of an attack on our democracy and freedom of press,” he said as reported by The Epoch Times. 

Meanwhile, Eshoo defended the letter, saying they had asked First Amendment experts at the Congressional Research Service to review their letters for violations. She claims the experts said there were no red flags and would bring out her proof when the time comes.

“I’d like this to be understood, the idea that members asking questions violates the First Amendment is absolutely absurd. It’s our job to ask questions,” Eshoo said.

McNerney also added that they were trying to understand how “disinformation spreads” and how different companies fuel it. 

McMorris Rodgers on Wednesday sent a letter to acting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel asking her to disapprove Eshoo and McNerney’s letter.

“As Acting Chairwoman of the Commission, it is incumbent upon you to use your position to preserve and protect our fundamental freedoms that are protected by the First Amendment. You can, and must, denounce any attempts by government officials to use their power to threaten a free press at such an important time in our Nation’s history,” she wrote in the letter, cosigned by Communications and Technology Republican Subcommittee Leader Bob Latta (R-Ohio).