BURLINGTON, Vt., Sept. 25 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today strongly condemned Nexstar Media Group’s decision to block the broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on stations it owns, including WVNY in Vermont, following political pressure from former President Donald Trump and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr.

In a letter sent this week to Nexstar CEO Perry Sook, Sanders called the move “absolutely unacceptable” and a “dangerous act of censorship that has no place in a democratic society.”

“Let’s be clear,” Sanders wrote. “Being able to publicly criticize or make fun of the President of the United States—whether that person is a Republican, Democrat or Independent—is what makes America a great country and sets us apart from tin pot dictatorships and authoritarian regimes.”

Sanders noted that Kimmel’s monologue, delivered on his return to late-night television, has already been viewed nearly 26 million times nationwide and across the globe. But Vermonters and viewers in other parts of the country were denied the chance to watch the show live due to Nexstar’s actions.

“Decisions about what Vermonters and the American people can and cannot watch on television should not be dictated by political pressure from Donald Trump or any government official,” Sanders said. “Broadcasters are supposed to serve the public interest—not do the bidding of politicians who don’t like being criticized.”

Sanders also raised concerns about the timing of Nexstar’s move, pointing to the company’s pending $6.2 billion merger with Tegna.

“I am afraid that Nexstar’s decision to cancel Jimmy Kimmel has more to do with getting the Trump Administration to approve its merger than respecting the diverse interests of the communities it serves,” he said.

Sanders demanded that Nexstar immediately restore Jimmy Kimmel Live! to viewers in Vermont and elsewhere, saying that any decision to censor political satire or commentary “undermines freedom of expression and the rights of the American people.”

“Freedom of expression is vital to American democracy. Broadcasters have a responsibility to protect that freedom—not undermine it as a result of political pressure from Donald Trump.”

The full text of Senator Sanders’ letter can be found here.