President Biden's hard-left pro-censorship nominee to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has withdrawn from the process. 

Gigi Sohn sat through three separate confirmation hearings during a process that lasted sixteen months. After all of that, Sohn is giving up.

She blames special interests, not her own radical views, for this turn of events. In an angry statement, Sohn claimed she was the target of "unrelenting, dishonest, and cruel attacks” from lobbyists.

"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,” Sohn told The Washington Post.

Biden nominee gives up

Biden first nominated Sohn in October 2021, but she struggled as numerous red flags popped up during the vetting process. Her decision to withdraw came after Democratic senator Joe Manchin (Wv.) said he would not support her, citing Sohn's "toxic partisanship."

"For those reasons, I cannot support her nomination to the FCC, and I urge the Biden administration to put forth a nominee who can bring us together, not drive us apart," Manchin said.

Nevada Democratic senator Jacky Rosen also expressed concern about Sohn's far-left views.

At the height of the "defund the police" movement in 2020, Sohn retweeted a post attacking cops who defended a federal courthouse in Portland as "armed goons in riot gear with tear gas."

Sohn has not concealed her feelings toward Donald Trump, whom she called a "raggedy white supremacist."

Free speech win

Her statements on telecommunications show, at best, indifference to free speech if not outright hostility to it.

Sohn claimed that Facebook and Twitter "don't have a censorship problem" and suggested that the Sinclair Broadcasting Group, a conservative TV station operator, should lose its license.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz (Tx.) celebrated the news of Sohn's withdrawal as a victory for free speech.

"The FCC is not the place for partisan activists; free speech is too important," Cruz said. "Now, it's time for the Biden administration to put forth a nominee who can be confirmed by the full Senate and is committed to serving as an even-handed and truly independent regulator."

Her withdrawal means that Democrats will remain without a majority on the FCC, which is split between two Democrats and two Republicans. The White House defended Sohn as qualified for the role, saying she "would have brought tremendous intellect and experience."