Cruz blasts Biden pick for FCC commissioner over donations to Democrat senators

February 15, 2023

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) pointed out during a confirmation hearing for Biden FCC Commissioner, Gigi Sohn, on Tuesday that she made contributions to Democratic senators who would be voting on her nomination.

"I've been in the Senate ten years. I have never seen a nominee make contributions to senators while your nomination is pending. I've never seen that once," Cruz said. "I had my staff search the records. If we could find anyone in the Trump administration who had done that. My staff was unable to find that."

Sohn made about a dozen contributions totaling around $1,000 to the senators in what could be construed as an attempt at a bribe.

Cruz asked Sohn if she thought it was poor judgment to make the donations, but she defended her decision.

"Senator, I'm a citizen who just wanted to participate in the Democratic process," Sohn responded. "The answer is no."

It is the third round of hearings for Sohn, who previously failed to disclose involvement in Locast, a company that was accused of copyright infringement in its broadcasting of over-the-air television. The company settled a previous lawsuit for $700,000.