DOJ Probes Networks’ White House Coverage Boycott

The US Justice Department is investigating ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News over whether their joint response to the White House’s removal of press credentials could violate federal antitrust law. The networks suspended White House coverage and declined to provide replacement coverage after reporters from CNN, Politico and MS NOW were blocked from entering the building. The department said it is examining whether the networks’ conduct amounted to an unlawful group boycott under the Sherman Act, while emphasizing that the inquiry is intended to determine whether antitrust laws were violated. The dispute began on September 19, when the White House revoked the reporters’ credentials. The administration described access to the president as a “privilege — not a right.” The affected outlets sued, arguing that the exclusions violated the First Amendment and were retaliation for their reporting. The five networks form the primary White House television pool: they share the costs of covering the president, take turns coordinating coverage and distribute footage to other outlets. The White House restored the credentials on September 24, after US District Judge Timothy Kelly found the ban likely unconstitutional and ordered the administration to restore the reporters’ access. However, disagreements over access to particular presidential events and assignments continued. The antitrust investigation adds legal and potential financial pressure to an already contentious relationship between the Trump administration and news organisations. The networks had not immediately responded to Reuters’ requests for comment. The New York Times first reported the probe.

The US Department of Justice has opened an antitrust investigation into five television networks—ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News—after they jointly suspended coverage of President Donald Trump last month. The department is examining whether the networks’ coordinated action violated the Sherman Act, which prohibits certain agreements among commercial competitors. Justice Department spokesperson Emily Convington said the inquiry is intended to determine whether the outlets broke antitrust law. The coverage suspension followed the White House’s decision to revoke the credentials of reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico. The five broadcasters share the work and costs of the White House television pool, which provides footage to outlets around the country. In solidarity with the excluded organisations, all five stopped covering the president and declined to supply replacement coverage. The White House said on September 19 that covering the president was a “privilege – not a right.” The affected outlets sued, arguing that their exclusion violated the First Amendment and was retaliation for their reporting. US District Judge Timothy Kelly later found the ban likely unconstitutional and ordered the administration to restore the reporters’ access. The White House reinstated their credentials on September 24, though disputes over access to particular events and pool assignments continued. The Justice Department investigation adds to broader tensions between the Trump administration and major news organisations. The article notes that Trump has repeatedly described mainstream media as “fake news” and clashed with reporters. The inquiry could create legal and financial pressure on media outlets to maintain presidential coverage despite disagreements with the administration. The networks had not immediately commented. Jose Zamora of the Committee to Protect Journalists criticised the investigation, warning that antitrust inquiries should not be used to intimidate news outlets defending press access and that the public’s right to know depends on that access.

The US Department of Justice is investigating whether five television news organizations violated antitrust law when they jointly suspended coverage of President Donald Trump last month. The decision followed the White House’s move to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from its press pool, with the administration arguing that covering the president was a “privilege, not a right.” The broadcasters stopped presidential coverage in protest and did not provide replacement programming. Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington said the Antitrust Division is investigating whether the news organizations’ actions violated the law, noting that group boycotts by business competitors may be unlawful. The outlets named in the investigation are ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News. The news organizations also sued the administration, alleging that it had violated their First Amendment rights to free speech and a free press and retaliated against them over their reporting. On September 24, the White House restored their press credentials after a federal district judge ordered that their access be immediately returned and reinstated. Jose Zamora, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ regional director for the Americas, criticized the DOJ investigation, warning that antitrust inquiries should not be used to intimidate outlets defending press access. He said the public’s right to know depends on that access. The article describes the White House press pool as a rotating group of outlets that cover the president and accompany him on official duties. The television pool’s members share the costs of coverage, take turns organizing it, and distribute footage to other outlets. The dispute has become part of a wider conflict over press freedom, amid Trump’s repeated attacks on mainstream media as “fake news” and clashes with reporters.

The US Justice Department is investigating whether ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News violated federal antitrust law when they briefly suspended their shared coverage of President Donald Trump. Six people familiar with the inquiry said department officials contacted the networks on October 9 and sought communications and other materials concerning the White House television pool, a long-standing arrangement in which participating networks share responsibility for filming the president and distributing footage to other outlets. The networks halted their pooled coverage for several days in September after Trump barred CNN journalists from White House grounds, preventing CNN from taking part in the pool. Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington said the Antitrust Division was investigating whether the news organizations’ collective action amounted to an unlawful group boycott under the Sherman Act. The department said the inquiry was to determine whether antitrust laws had been violated; it did not say that the networks had committed an offense. The investigation adds to an ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and the White House press corps. The article notes other actions by the Justice Department involving media organizations, including subpoenas to New York Times reporters and the seizure of a Washington Post journalist’s laptop. The dispute began after Trump barred CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House on September 18, saying he objected to what he called “purposely negative stories.” The three organizations sued, arguing that the ban violated their First Amendment rights. The administration maintained that access to the White House was a “privilege.” A federal judge temporarily blocked the ban, but the order was due to expire on October 13. The White House and representatives of the five networks had not immediately commented on the investigation.