Calls for Investigation into FCC Members over Gala Tickets
Two watchdog groups have called for an investigation into Federal Communications Commission (FCC) members. They aim to determine if ethics violations occurred when members accepted luxury gala tickets from Paramount. The company sought government approval for a $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
The complaints by Democracy Defenders Fund and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington reference a ProPublica investigation. This investigation revealed that CBS, or its parent company Paramount, provided FCC commissioners with tickets to the Kennedy Center honors gala. The gala, sponsored by the network, coincided with FCC reviews of major Paramount business decisions, including two significant mergers.
Commissioner Olivia Trusty’s latest financial disclosure revealed that Paramount provided two tickets to the December 2025 gala. These tickets were valued at over $12,000. Trusty was among those who voted in favor of Paramount’s merger with Skydance last year.
ProPublica disclosed that seven of ten commissioners since 2016 accepted tickets worth more than $260,000.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr also featured prominently in the ProPublica investigation. His financial statements showed he accepted gala tickets from CBS or its parent company eight times since 2017. The value of these gifts exceeded $75,000. Despite this, Carr voted in favor of the Paramount-Skydance merger and attended the December gala in a skybox with Paramount executives. The cost for such seating was listed as $125,000 per ticket.
Federal ethics regulations prohibit employees from accepting gifts from entities that conduct business with or require action from their agency. The Democracy Defenders Fund stressed the importance of unbiased government decisions, free from private influence.
The FCC, Carr, and Trusty did not comment on the allegations. However, an FCC spokesperson stated that ethics officers have historically approved such gifts as compliant with ethics law. Paramount’s communication chief confirmed the longstanding practice of inviting government officials to the event.
Last year, Carr defended the Paramount merger with Skydance, citing public interest benefits. The FCC’s Paramount-Warner Bros. merger review is one of the final steps for a historic consolidation of two prominent film studios in Hollywood.
Ethics experts told ProPublica that Carr and Trusty compromised FCC’s neutrality by accepting tickets. They should abstain from decisions on the Paramount merger proposal. The Democracy Defenders Fund, led by former ambassador Norman Eisen, lodged its grievance with several federal bodies, urging them to investigate if Carr and Trusty violated gift acceptance rules or criminal laws.
The Democracy Defenders Fund suggested that Carr and Trusty reimburse Paramount for any unauthorized gifts. The federal ethics agency should withhold certification of Carr’s annual disclosure report until compliance with ethics laws is proven. The group also asked the FCC to disqualify Carr from participating in the commission’s decision on the merger.
Paramount announced its takeover bid of Warner Bros. Discovery shortly after the last year’s honors gala. Carr later endorsed the merger on CNBC, foreseeing prompt approval.
The demand for investigation by the Democracy Defenders Fund and CREW follows concerns about the integrity and neutrality of FCC operations. CREW requested an FCC inspector general probe of the gifts. Donald K. Sherman, head of CREW, emphasized the ethical standards expected of government officials.
The proposed merger led to legal challenges from several states and organizations. Paramount has agreed to pause its merger until litigation is resolved or until June 1, 2027, whichever is earlier.