Senate Democrats are going after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai for dodging a question about whether he agrees with President Trump that the press is an “enemy of the American people.”

During an FCC oversight hearing on Wednesday, Democratic members of the Senate Commerce Committee pressed Pai about whether he agreed with Trump’s characterization of the media. Pai responded by saying he did not want to “wade into the larger political debates,” but expressed his support for the First Amendment.

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On Friday, the 13 Democratic Senators on the committee sent a letter to Pai demanding that he answer the question and commit to running the FCC impartially and independently.

“While you have long claimed to be an advocate for the freedom of the press and the First Amendment, your silence on the matter and refusal to take a stand against threats levied at the media is troubling given your regulatory and oversight role over the industry,” the senators wrote.

“Moreover, such a lack of response could call into question the ongoing independence of the FCC under your watch,” the letter continues.

The letter includes a list of six questions for Pai and a request to respond within a week.

The senators ask if Pai’s recent renomination or appointment as chair came with the condition that he would “take any action against a specific media entity or generally against broadcast entities, cable network owners or other media outlets.”

The senators also asked him to commit to operating independently of the White House and to inform the committee if the president tries to influence his decision making.

Asked by The Hill to respond to the letter, an FCC spokesman pointed to a dissent issued by Pai of a media ownership ruling in which the then-commissioner praised reporters for the "important work throughout our country each and every day."

"Chairman Pai continues to believe that," the spokesman said. "Chairman Pai is a strong supporter of the First Amendment rights of the media and all Americans. He has protected those rights at the FCC and will continue to do so as long as he is privileged to serve at the Commission."

- Updated at 4:40 p.m.