Story perspectives

Paramount's Ticket Gifts to FCC Commissioners Spark Conflict Concerns

7/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Paramount gave gala tickets to seven of ten FCC commissioners over the past decade, creating a conflict of interest.
FCC Commissioner Ajit Carr accepted at least seven Kennedy Center tickets from Paramount since 2017, worth $63,000.
Ethics experts say gifts compromise FCC impartiality and urge commissioners to recuse themselves from Paramount merger votes.
Former Office of Government Ethics director Walter Shaub warned that such gifts erode public trust in government.

1 of 1

Story summary

Paramount gave gala tickets to seven of ten FCC commissioners over the past decade, creating a conflict of interest.
FCC Commissioner Ajit Carr accepted at least seven Kennedy Center tickets from Paramount since 2017, worth $63,000.
Ethics experts say gifts compromise FCC impartiality and urge commissioners to recuse themselves from Paramount merger votes.
Former Office of Government Ethics director Walter Shaub warned that such gifts erode public trust in government.