FTC’s Khan Sheds ‘Artillery Spotter’ With Wilson’s Abrupt Exit

Republican FTC Commissioner Christine Wilson’s resignation in protest of agency chair Lina Khan’s ambitious antitrust agenda leaves Khan without an internal GOP check on her moves.

A trio of Democrats will sit alone on the commission after Wilson departs, with full ability to continue opposing big mergers and anticompetitive activity. The Democrats will be able to press ahead for now without having to worry about minority dissents that question agency actions and serve as roadmaps for legal challenges.

“The position of the dissenting commissioner has been a source of enormous transparency over time,” said William Kovacic, a former Republican ...