Justice Department opens antitrust probe into TV networks over Trump pool boycott
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC suspended joint coverage of Trump after CNN, MS NOW and Politico were barred. The department is now examining whether that broke the Sherman Act.
Archive image · Photo: APK / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
The U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation into ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC over whether they violated antitrust law when they suspended the shared television pool coverage of President Donald Trump in September. A department official said civil investigative demands were issued to the five networks on Friday. The New York Times first reported the probe.
"Members of the television press pool have boycotted covering White House events," Justice Department spokeswoman Emily Covington said. "Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act." In the pool, the network on duty shares its video and audio with other outlets. ABC said it had not yet received formal notice; NBC, CBS and CNN declined to comment, while Fox News and the White House did not immediately respond.
The dispute stems from Trump's move in mid-September to revoke White House credentials for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, whom he accused of spreading "fake news." The networks then paused pool coverage jointly, saying the public has a "vital interest" in independent information about its government. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly temporarily blocked the ban and extended his order through Tuesday while he weighs the case, but CNN and Politico remain barred from the Oval Office and Air Force One.