Corporation for Public Broadcasting sues Trump over attempt to fire three board members

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is suing President Trump over his attempt to fire three of its board members as part of his battle with publicly-subsidized news outlets such as PBS and NPR.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by the corporation in the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., and alleges the board members received an email Monday from Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel Trent Morse saying, "President Trump had purportedly terminated their positions on the Board," according to the court filing.

The CPB seeks a judicial declaration that states the firings are "of no legal effect given that the President has no power to remove or terminate CPB’s Board members."

The lawsuit follows Trump urging Congress to defund public broadcasters over their alleged liberal bias. In January, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said outlets like NPR and PBS will be investigated regarding their editorial bent and donation models.