Los Angeles station KABC is among eight ABC affiliates suing the Federal Communications Commission. The Walt Disney Company filed the lawsuit Aug. 18, alleging the FCC is punishing the network for its coverage of President Trump.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court, asks a judge to issue a temporary restraining order blocking the FCC's early review of the stations' broadcast licenses. Those licenses were not scheduled for renewal until between 2028 and 2031, according to the Los Angeles Times. The suit calls the current review "extraordinarily early."

Disney and ABC contend the review is retaliation tied to late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's persistent on-air criticism of Trump. The FCC launched the review in April, days after Kimmel satirized the White House Correspondents Association dinner on April 23. In the skit, Kimmel said First Lady Melania Trump was "glowing like an expectant widow," the Burbank Leader reported.

The FCC says it is investigating whether Disney's diversity and inclusion policies violate federal anti-discrimination laws. But the suit alleges the agency "has not been shy about openly coercing ABC into changing its programming," citing remarks FCC Chairman Brendan Carr made last fall.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way," Carr said, according to the lawsuit. "These companies can find ways … to take action … on Kimmel or there is going to be additional work for the FCC."

Two days after Kimmel's April 23 skit, a gunman attempted to enter the White House Correspondents dinner at the Washington Hilton before being stopped by Secret Service agents. Trump tied the incident to Kimmel's sketch and again called for his firing, the Times reported.

Trump escalated his pressure on ABC in July. After the network did not carry his July 16 prime-time Oval Office address on election fraud, Trump called for ABC's TV licenses to be revoked. Carr said the network's decision would factor into the license review.

Shortly after Carr's remarks about Kimmel last fall, two large TV station ownership groups pulled Kimmel off the air for a week. The move followed conservative blowback over the host's comments about the shooting death of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, the Times reported.

The suit notes that even some Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about the FCC's actions. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said at an August Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that the FCC "scares me right now" and questioned what business the agency has policing television content.

Anna Gomez, the sole Democrat on the FCC, said in a statement that she supported Disney's legal action. Daniel Suhr, president of the conservative Center for Individual Rights, criticized the suit, saying the FCC's investigation into Disney's hiring practices is warranted.

No ruling on the temporary restraining order request has been announced.

The case remains pending.