Justice Department probes TV networks over Trump pool coverage
XLC•The Justice Department is investigating whether television networks violated federal antitrust laws after briefly stopping White House pool coverage. The New York Times reportedly named ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News as the networks under investigation.
1. Antitrust investigation
The Justice Department said it is investigating whether television networks violated federal antitrust laws after they briefly stopped providing White House pool coverage. A department spokesperson said group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act and that the investigation is to determine whether the news organizations violated antitrust laws.
2. Coverage resumed
The networks briefly stopped pool coverage after President Donald Trump banned CNN, Politico and MS Now from the White House, then reinstated coverage. ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC make up the primary White House television pool, sharing coverage costs, taking turns organizing coverage and distributing footage to outlets around the country.
