FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s Past Ties to Controversial Washington AA Group Revealed
Brendan Carr, the FCC chair, was a long-time member of Midtown, a Washington-area AA-styled group that former participants describe as cult-like and sexually exploitative; Carr denies any involvement in wrongdoing.
A report uncovers that Brendan Carr, now chair of the Federal Communications Commission, belonged for about nine years to Midtown, a Washington-area organization that presented itself as an Alcoholics Anonymous chapter but was run by Michael Quinones, whose leadership former members compare to a cult. Participants say Quinones dictated members’ living arrangements, work, schooling and sexual relationships, with teenage girls reportedly pressured into dating and sex with much older men, some describing the experience as trafficking.
Carr, who joined at age 17 and stayed through law school, is portrayed by former acquaintances as a “safe” individual who did not partake in the predatory behavior, though he has not commented on his time there and his FCC spokesperson denies any involvement in illegal activity. The investigation draws on testimonies from 14 former members, archival recordings, and a 2006 group photograph showing Carr behind Quinones. Earlier media coverage in 2007 highlighted similar allegations, leading to the group’s removal from its church venue, yet Midtown continues to meet in Maryland today. The revelations come as Carr has faced criticism for using FCC authority to target media outlets perceived as hostile to the Trump administration.
Why it matters
The story links a powerful regulator to a controversial group, raising questions about his judgment and potential conflicts of interest.
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