Stephen Colbert claims CBS prohibited him from broadcasting this James Talarico interview.

The Late Show host Stephen Colbert reported that CBS stopped him from airing an interview with James Talarico, a Democratic representative from Texas. In his Monday night’s monologue, Colbert explained that the network’s lawyers informed him in “no uncertain terms” that Talarico could not be featured on the show, compelling him to upload the interview on YouTube instead, shortly after news emerged that Anderson Cooper is stepping down from his role as a 60 Minutes correspondent.

“He [Talarico] was meant to be present, but our network’s legal team explicitly stated, upon calling us, that we could not include him in the broadcast,” Colbert indicated. “Then I received guidance stating that not only could I not feature him, but I could not even mention my inability to have him on the show.”

CBS representative Phil Gonzales provided The Verge with a similar statement asserting that Colbert was not prohibited from airing the interview, as conveyed to Variety and other media, but declined to attribute it by name due to The Verge’s background policy. When asked for a name, Gonzales replied, “Respectfully, you’re not required to use the statement. We will remember this for next time the Verge requests a response [sic].”

Colbert, whose late-night show concludes in May, refers to the Federal Communications Commission’s equal time regulation, which mandates that radio and broadcast television programs must provide air time to competing political candidates equally during election periods. Talarico is currently pursuing a Senate position.

As highlighted by Deadline, interviews for news have traditionally been excluded from this rule, with talk shows apparently covered under that exemption. However, in January, FCC Chair Brendan Carr released new guidance suggesting that late-night and daytime talk shows should also adhere to the regulation. “If you’re fake news, you won’t qualify for the bona fide news exemption,” Carr stated then.

Colbert mentioned that Carr “hasn’t eliminated” the exemption thus far, but CBS “is enforcing it on its own as if it were abolished.” Last year, Paramount appointed The Free Press founder Bari Weiss to oversee CBS News. “Let’s call this for what it truly is. The administration of Donald Trump aims to silence anyone who voices criticism of Trump on television.”

Update, February 17th: Included additional information regarding the statement from CBS.