The US broadcasting regulator has launched an independent investigation into the BBC.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr sent a letter to outgoing Director General Tim Davie.
Mr Carr included PBS and NPR in the letter as the two outlets distribute BBC programming in the United States.
In a letter seen by Breitbart, the Chairman said: “The BBC program depicts President Trump voicing a sentence that, in fact, he never uttered.
“That would appear to meet the very definition of publishing a materially false and damaging statement.”
While Ofcom is looking into the broadcaster, Mr Carr said he is independently investigating whether the BBC has engaged in “misleading and deceptive conduct.”
The complaint centres on a Panorama programme, broadcast a week before the 2024 US election results, spliced two clips together.
In the edited clip, Mr Trump appeared to tell the crowd: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”
The BBC is under fire from the FCC
|
REUTERS
The FCC Chief stated that the misleading edits of the President’s speech received “widespread condemnation”.
Mr Carr’s letter read: “The BBC has stated that it has a number of partnerships with US broadcasters, including PBS and NPR, to distribute BBC programming here in America.
“I am therefore writing to each of you to determine whether the BBC provided either the video or audio of the spliced speech to NPR, PBS, or any other broadcaster regulated by the FCC for airing in the US.
“If so, please provide the FCC with transcripts and video of any such broadcasts of the relevant program.
“As you may know, broadcasters regulated by the FCC have a legal obligation to operate in the public interest.
“Those public interest requirements include prohibitions on news distortion and broadcast hoax.
“After all, the FCC has stated that ‘rigging or slanting the news is a most heinous act against the public interest’.”
Commissioner of Federal Communications Commission Brendan Carr has written to the BBC
|
REUTERS
Mr Carr concluded in his letter: “I am committed to holding broadcasters accountable to their public interest obligations, and your prompt response will help aid me in that effort.”
Back in the UK Members of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee will grill BBC Chair Samir Shah, along with former editorial standards advisor Michael Prescott, whose leaked report sparked the row that has seen Mr Trump threaten to sue the BBC for one billion dollars.
Mr Shah has also apologised on behalf of the BBC over an “error of judgment” and accepted that the editing of the speech gave “the impression of a direct call for violent action.”
But the corporation continues to resist Mr Trump’s demands for significant damages.
Outgoing Director General of the BBC Tim Davie and Chairman Samir Shah
|
PARLIAMENT TV
A spokesman said: “While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
The committee session on November 24 will also hear from former senior Conservative advisor Sir Robbie Gibb, who has faced calls for his removal from the BBC’s board.
Last week, creative industries union Bectu called for Sir Robbie to go, saying his position was “untenable” and said he was perceived by corporation staff as being “sympathetic to, or actively part of, a campaign to undermine the BBC and influence its political impartiality.”
Sir Robbie, who served as director of communications for Theresa May, has so far declined to comment on criticism of his position on the BBC board.