The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into whether five major television networks violated antitrust laws by temporarily halting White House pool coverage of President Donald Trump last month, a department spokesperson said Saturday.
The networks under investigation are ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News. The probe follows their decision to suspend coverage in solidarity after the White House revoked credentials for reporters from CNN, MS Now and Politico on Sept. 19, stating that covering the president was a “privilege – not a right.” The networks share costs and footage as part of the White House television pool.
“Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act,” Emily Convington, a Justice Department spokesperson, said. “The Antitrust Division is simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws.”
The White House reinstated the credentials on Sept. 24 after U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled the ban was likely unconstitutional. The networks resumed coverage shortly after. None of the five outlets immediately responded to requests for comment.
Jose Zamora, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ regional director of the Americas, criticized the investigation on Saturday. “The government should not use antitrust investigations to intimidate news outlets defending press access,” Zamora said on X. “The public’s right to know depends on that access.”
