WASHINGTON — U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan questioned the Federal Communications Commission’s rationale for ordering an early review of eight ABC broadcast licenses during a hearing Tuesday, raising doubts about whether the agency’s action is merely part of a discovery dispute in an investigation of ABC’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices. ABC argues the court can intervene in the FCC’s order, which calls for the licenses to be reviewed years ahead of their scheduled renewal. FCC Chair Brendan Carr and President Donald Trump have publicly discussed the dispute, AliKhan noted. “It strikes me with all the comments that we have from the president and from Commissioner Brendan Carr that this is merely over a discovery dispute,” the judge said. AliKhan also questioned why the agency had singled out ABC for an early license review when discovery disputes occur with other broadcasters. “What is it that made this so different that you needed to call for an early license renewal?” she asked. The case puts the FCC’s use of broadcast licensing authority under judicial scrutiny. The hearing could determine whether the agency may move forward with its early review; no ruling was reported Tuesday.