FCC's Pai: WH Lawyer Don McGahn Called About Sinclair-Tribune Deal

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said White House lawyer Don McGahn called him after the decision was announced that effectively doomed the Sinclair Broadcast Group's acquisition of Tribune Media, Politico is reporting.

Pai's comments came during a congressional oversight hearing Thursday. McGahn called in mid-July after Pai announced an order to send the $3.9 billion merger into an administrative hearing process. The move was viewed as a deal-killer, Politico said.

Pai said the call was a request for a status update and not an effort to influence the outcome.

"He saw something in the news and wanted to know what our decision was, or what the action was, the proposed action," Pai said.

Trump had blasted the FCC's decision in a tweet last month.

"So sad and unfair that the FCC wouldn't approve the Sinclair Broadcast merger with Tribune," he wrote. "This would have been a great and much needed conservative voice for and of the people. Liberal fake news NBC and Comcast gets approved, much bigger, but not Sinclair. Disgraceful."

• Report: Sinclair 'Toxic' After Failed Merger, Probes, Lawsuit
• Slap at Sinclair Seen as Turnabout From Friendly FCC Chief