News Distortion: The Center for American Rights filed a complaint with the FCC yesterday over NBC, CBS, and ABC’s coverage of the controversial deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Abrego Garcia, a citizen of El Salvador living in Maryland, was deported to his home country last month in an action that has raised questions about whether his constitutional due process rights were violated. “NBC, ABC, and CBS have all done a grave disservice to the basic facts of the controversy by consistently referring to him as a ‘Maryland father’ and in some instances even presenting false information, like calling him a ‘legal resident,’” CAR said in a 14-page news distortion complaint signed by President Daniel Suhr. “Abrego Garcia is an illegal alien. His wife filed for a protective order based on multiple incidents of domestic violence. According to an immigration judge, he is a verified member of a violent transnational gang. But if you listen to broadcast news, he is a loving Maryland father and legal resident of the United States. That glaring disconnect is news distortion.” CAR devoted most of the complaints to NBC’s coverage – which also touched a nerve with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. (PDF of complaint and more after paywall.)
