The Republican chair of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, contended in a Senate hearing Wednesday that the agency under the Trump administration was not independent. Carr was grilled by Democrats over his criticism of the late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and his threats against TV networks that broadcast content that President Trump did not like.

Sen. Ben Ray Luján: “Is the FCC an independent agency?”

Brendan Carr: “Senator, thanks for that question. I think the” —

Sen. Ben Ray Luján: “Yes or no is all we need, sir. Yes or no, is it independent?”

Brendan Carr: “Well, there’s a test for this in the law. And the key portion of that test” —

Sen. Ben Ray Luján: “Just yes or no, Brendan!”

Brendan Carr: “The key portion of that test is” —

Sen. Ben Ray Luján: “OK, I’m going to go to Commissioner Trusty. So, just so you know, Brendan, on your website, it just simply says, man, 'The FCC is independent.' This isn’t a trick question.”

Brendan Carr: “OK, the FCC is not” —

Sen. Ben Ray Luján: “Is it yes or no?”

Brendan Carr: “Is not.”

Sen. Ben Ray Luján: “OK.”

Brendan Carr: “Is not an independent” —

Sen. Ben Ray Luján: “So, is your website wrong? Is your website lying?”

Brendan Carr: “Possibly. The FCC is not an independent agency.”

Before Carr spoke, the FCC had a mission statement on its website that said the agency was “an independent U.S. government agency overseen by Congress.” But in a screenshot taken by Axios, the word “independent” was removed during Carr’s testimony.