FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) holds a press conference at the U.S. Embassy, in Mexico City, Mexico, August 29, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Sanchez/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Senator Ted Cruz on Friday compared the head of the Federal Communications Commission to an organized crime figure and criticized threats made against Disney and broadcasters for airing "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

Cruz said FCC Chair Brendan Carr's threats to impose fines or pull licenses over host Jimmy Kimmel's comments about Charlie Kirk's assassination were dangerous.

"He says we can do this the easy way (or) we can do this the hard way.... I've got to say that's right out of 'Goodfellas.' That's right out of a Mafioso coming into a bar going, 'Nice bar you have here. It would be a shame if something happened to it.'" Carr did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)