FCC Chair Carr's decade in 'sex cult' AA group that exploited teens
The Guardian investigation reveals Trump's FCC chairman was a longtime Midtown Group member where a leader coerced young girls into sex with older men.
What to know
- The Guardian investigation documents how Midtown Group leader Michael Quinones ran what former members call a "sex cult" that sexually exploited teenage girls, with Carr a member from 1996 through at least 2006.
- Witnesses who knew Carr say he did not participate in misconduct and some described him as a protective presence; his spokesperson denies extended membership and says the story is being weaponized.
- Some former members argue Carr's power as FCC chairman—which includes targeting media outlets—means his Midtown history warrants public scrutiny.
The dispute Whether Carr's presence in Midtown and his subsequent rise to FCC chair—a position controlling media regulation—represents a legitimate disqualifier or a weaponized attack on his past sobriety. · positions read across 1 posts and comments
Carr's Midtown involvement raises legitimate questions about his fitness given his media regulatory power.
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“A man who has the power to control what types of stories the mainstream public have access to is a man who should expect the narrative of his own life to fall under scrutiny.”
Lydia · The Guardian (via New Republic) ↗
Carr was not a perpetrator and his teenage sobriety is being weaponized to embarrass him or change his job performance.
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“A spokesperson for Carr denied that the FCC chairman had been a member of the Midtown Group 'up to and through 2006,' and claimed that Carr's decision to get 'sober over 30 years ago as a teenager' was being weaponized by a small group of…”
Carr's spokesperson · New Republic ↗
“The wounds inflicted upon us during our time trapped at Midtown have formed scars. A man who has the power to control what types of stories the mainstream public have access to is a man who should expect the narrative of his own life to fall under scrutiny.”
Lydia, Former Midtown Group member · The Guardian (via New Republic) ↗
Brendan Carr FCC Chairman, Trump administrationMichael Quinones Midtown Group leaderThe Guardian Investigative outlet
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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Social media amplifies story, comparing Carr to Trump's earlier Epstein associations
Posts on X describe Carr as "Trump's FCC chair" and connect his involvement in the Midtown Group to Trump's "Epstein administration."
“Trump's FCC chair was a longtime member of a sex cult that sexually assaulted and exploited teenage girls.”
— @DarrigoMelanie -
Trump’s FCC chair was a longtime member of a sex cult that sexually assaulted and exploited teenage girls. This is just more expected behavior from Trump’s Epstein administration.
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background
Carr's spokesperson denies extended membership and says story is weaponized — A spokesperson for Carr denied that the FCC chairman had been a member of the Midtown Group "up to and through 2006," and claimed that Carr's decision to get "sober over 30 years ago as a teenager" was being weaponized by a small group to "embarrass or pressure him into doing his job differently."
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background
Former members defend Carr but some call for scrutiny of his role — People who knew Carr at the time said they did not believe he engaged in misconduct. Some described him as a "safe respite" from the group's psychological manipulation and a "victim of Midtown." However, other former members argued that Carr's power as FCC chairman means his Midtown history should be public scrutiny.
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background
Guardian publishes investigation of Midtown Group abuse — The Guardian released an investigation built on interviews with 14 former members, recordings of Midtown sobriety discussions, and photographs. The investigation detailed how Quinones ran what former members describe as a "sex cult" that sexually exploited and trafficked teenage girls.
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background
Carr joins Midtown Group at age 17 — Brendan Carr joined the Washington-based Alcoholics Anonymous chapter known as the Midtown Group in 1996 when he was 17 years old.