Biden FCC pick withdraws from consideration

Gigi Sohn, President Joe Biden's nominee to join the Federal Communications Commission, withdrew her name from consideration on Tuesday citing her stalled nomination and the political attacks against her stemming from it.

The White House confirmed her withdrawal with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying "We appreciate Gigi Sohn’s candidacy for this important role. She would have brought tremendous talent, intellect and experience, which is why the president nominated her in the first place," according to The Hill. "We also appreciate her dedication to public service, her talent and her years of work as one of the nation's leading public advocates on behalf of American consumers and competition."

Biden nominated Sohn roughly two years ago, though the nomination stalled. She previously was a top aide to former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and Democrats had touted her relevant experience, though Republicans found her too far to the left to be palatable.

The FCC is currently gridlocked 2-2 with one seat vacant. Sohn lamented that lobbyist efforts had succeeded in keeping her from assuming the post.

"It is a sad day for our country and our democracy when dominant industries, with assistance from unlimited dark money, get to choose their regulators," she said. "And with the help of their friends in the Senate, the powerful cable and media companies have done just that."

Sohn cited "unrelenting, dishonest and cruel attacks" from detractors as motivating her withdrawal, the outlet noted. She said that such volleys had taken "an enormous toll on [her] and [her] family."

The White House has not announced an alternative nominee.

Appearing on the "Just the News, No Noise" television show on Tuesday, "The Great America Show" host Lou Dobbs observed that Sohn is merely the latest Biden nominee to fail to complete the appointment process due to concerns over radicalism.

"The common denominator, any illogical activist in nearly every instance of we're talking about? These are not socialists in the Democrat, progressive Democrat Party, these are Marxist and they have records of incitement agitation," Dobbs said. "They are truly working against the American system as we know it, if you will, the American way of life."

"And in every incidence, they don't belong in government," he contended. "And by the way that was known to Joe Biden and his administration long before they were put on a list. They're there because of their activism, because of their ideological commitment." 

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.