Media Contact: 
Tina Pelkey, (202) 418-0536
tina.pelkey@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

CHAIRMAN PAI STATEMENT ON INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT
CONCLUDING NO EVIDENCE OR SUGGESTION OF 
FAVORITISM TOWARD SINCLAIR  

WASHINGTON, August 27, 2018—Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai issued the following statement regarding the Office of Inspector General’s independent report, which found no evidence or suggestion of impropriety, unscrupulous behavior, or favoritism towards Sinclair.  Moreover, the Office of the Inspector General found no lack of impartiality related to the proposed Sinclair-Tribune Merger.

“I’m pleased that the Office of Inspector General has concluded that there was ‘no evidence, nor even the suggestion, of impropriety, unscrupulous behavior, favoritism towards Sinclair, or lack of impartiality related to the proposed Sinclair-Tribune Merger.’  I have called on the FCC for many years to update its outdated media ownership regulations to match the realities of the modern marketplace.  As I said when this investigation was first announced, the suggestion that I favored any one company was absurd, and today’s report proves that Capitol Hill Democrats’ politically-motivated accusations were entirely baseless.”

Key excerpts from the report:
· “After a comprehensive investigation . . . we found no evidence, nor even the suggestion, of impropriety, unscrupulous behavior, favoritism towards Sinclair, or lack of impartiality related to the proposed Sinclair-Tribune Merger.” (pg. 5)
· “Our review did not reveal any improper actions.” (pg. 6)
· “To the contrary, actions taken by Chairman Pai in the rulemakings identified in the letters from Congress are, as he stated in his interview, consistent with his long-held, and publicly espoused, policy beliefs.” (pg. 6)
· “The December 21, 2017, NAL against Sinclair was the largest proposed fine for sponsorship ID violations in the history of the FCC; this is evidence of lack of favoritism toward Sinclair.” (pg. 6)

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Office of Chairman Ajit Pai: (202) 418-1000
Twitter: @AjitPaiFCC
www.fcc.gov/leadership/ajit-pai

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).