Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said on Wednesday he stands by the decision to refer Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.'s $3.9 billion proposed acquisition of Tribune Media Co. for review by an administrative law judge despite critical comments from U.S. President Donald Trump.
"I stand by our decision," Pai told a U.S. House panel.
Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday that it was "disgraceful" that the FCC "wouldn't approve the Sinclair Broadcast merger with Tribune. This would have been a great and much needed Conservative voice for and of the People."
Pai said he did not make decisions based on ideology of applicants, but looked at the facts.