Donald Trump Nominates Democrat Geoffrey Starks as an FCC Commissioner
President Donald Trump intends to name Democrat Geoffrey Starks to serve as an FCC Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement released Friday.
Subject to Senate approval, Starks will fill the vacancy left by Mignon Clyburn, who abruptly stepped down in April. Starks will complete Clyburn’s five-year term, which ends June 30, 2022.
“I congratulate Geoffrey Starks on his forthcoming nomination to serve as a Commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission,” Pai said. “He has a distinguished record of public service, including in the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, and I wish him all the best during the confirmation process.”
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The nomination of a Democrat to fill the vacant position on the FCC commission isn’t a surprise, however. By law, only three members of the five-member FCC commission can be from the same party. Clyburn, also a Democrat, was appointed by Barack Obama in 2009.
Starks is currently serving as one of five assistant FCC bureau chiefs at the FCC. He previously served as a senior counsel at the U.S. Justice Department.
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