Justice Department opens antitrust probe into TV networks over White House coverage boycott

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Justice Department is investigating whether five major television networks broke federal antitrust law when they jointly stopped providing pool coverage of President Trump.

ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News make up the White House television pool. They suspended coverage in solidarity after the administration barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House last month, a ban a federal judge later found was likely unconstitutional.

“Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act,” the department said. Spokesperson Emily Convington said the Antitrust Division is “simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws.”

Press freedom groups criticized the move. “The government should not use antitrust investigations to intimidate news outlets defending press access,” said Jose Zamora of the Committee to Protect Journalists. The networks did not immediately comment.