The US Justice Department on Saturday announced that it is investigating five major television networks after the Trump White House Pool boycott, The New York Times reported. It is investigating whether the networks violated federal antitrust laws when they briefly halted pooled White House coverage in protest of President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke press credentials from three news organizations.
The probe involves ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News, which collectively operate the primary White House television pool.
How did the White House dispute begin?
The latest conflict began after President Trump accused several media outlets of publishing what he called deliberately negative coverage.
Why are the television networks under investigation?
Emily Covington, a Justice Department spokesperson, confirmed the investigation in a statement. Reuters reported that the networks have not yet publicly responded to requests for comment. Justice Department officials contacted the networks on Friday, seeking communications and documents related to the White House television pool, according to The New York Times.
After Trump barred CNN, Politico and MS Now journalists from White House grounds on September 18, the networks collectively stopped providing pool coverage for several days before later restoring the arrangement. The investigation follows the networks’ temporary decision to stop providing shared coverage after the Trump administration removed credentials for CNN, Politico and MS Now reporters. “Members of the television press pool have proudly boycotted covering White House events. She added that the Antitrust Division is investigating whether the news organisations violated federal antitrust laws. The television pool is a cooperative arrangement among ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC. The organizations rotate responsibility for covering the president, share production costs and distribute footage to broadcasters across the United States.
The Justice Department is examining whether the networks’ coordinated suspension of pooled coverage amounted to an unlawful “group boycott” under the Sherman Antitrust Act, according to The New York Times. Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act,” she said.
