Federal Communications Commission nominee Nathan Simington, known for his criticism of social media, was approved by a Senate panel on Wednesday, making him one step closer to leading the agency that oversees most broadcasters.
The Senate Commerce Committee voted 14-12 to approve Simington, who was nominated by President Trump in September.
If he’s approved by the full Senate, Simington will replace Republican Commissioner Mike O’Rielly, which would leave the agency at a 2-2 deadlock when Chairman Ajit Pai leaves on Jan. 20, according to the Verge. If Democrats can’t have a majority in the Senate, the incoming Biden administration would have challenges passing any major policy measures until a new nominee is vetted and approved.
Simington’s nomination came after Trump abruptly withdrew O’Rielly for renomination when he opposed making changes to Section 230, an internet law that’s met the ire of the Trump administration.
Simington is known for his skepticism of Big Tech and is viewed as a candidate who would support efforts to make changes to Section 230, which the administration has expressed a desire to repeal. The law offers broad legal protections for tech companies and social media companies to police and monitor their content freely.
He is a senior adviser in a key Commerce Department tech agency and once wrote to Fox News host Laura Ingraham in an effort to persuade her to help the Trump administration make it easier for social media companies to face litigation.
Reports of the correspondence met the concerns of some Democratic lawmakers on the panel.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Republicans were “rushing to approve” Simington.
“We have learned that he sought to enlist Fox News to quote ‘help get the FCC on board, more quickly and thereby ensure a freer and fairer social media landscape, going into the elections this fall,’ end quote,” Blumenthal said, accusing the nominee of playing a more significant role in the administration’s social media policy than he originally let on.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, the ranking member of the committee, also objected to approving the nomination, largely over his letters and emails to Ingraham.
“This involvement to me sounds significant, and I do not support his nomination,” Cantwell said.
