started · updated
U.S. Justice Department probes TV networks over White House press pool boycott
The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an antitrust investigation into ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News. The probe focuses on whether these networks engaged in an illegal boycott by collectively suspending their participation in the White House television press pool.
The suspension occurred after the Trump administration barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House access, citing the spread of false information. In a show of solidarity with CNN, the five major networks temporarily halted their shared coverage. The press pool is a rotational system where one outlet records events and shares the footage with others.
Department of Justice spokesperson Emily Covington stated that the Antitrust Division is investigating whether coordinated boycotts among commercial competitors violate the Sherman Act. The DOJ has issued civil investigative demands to obtain communications and records from the networks. While some press freedom advocates argue the investigation could be used to intimidate journalists, officials maintain they are simply determining if antitrust laws were broken.
Entities
ABC · ABC News · CNN · Department of Justice · Donald Trump · Emily Covington · Fox News · U.S. Department of Justice · White House
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 48 SOURCES] The television pool of five broadcasters ceased presidential coverage after the administration barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. www.durangoherald.com · english.alsiasi.com · newscentraltv.com · www.devdiscourse.com · kioncentralcoast.com · +34 more
- [● 44 SOURCES] CNN, MS NOW, and Politico filed lawsuits against the Trump administration regarding First Amendment rights. www.durangoherald.com · english.alsiasi.com · www.devdiscourse.com · kioncentralcoast.com · www.bbc.co.uk · +35 more
- [● 53 SOURCES] The administration barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. www.durangoherald.com · english.alsiasi.com · newscentraltv.com · www.devdiscourse.com · kioncentralcoast.com · +39 more
- [● 48 SOURCES] The Antitrust Division is investigating whether news organizations violated antitrust laws. www.notizie.it · www.durangoherald.com · english.alsiasi.com · newscentraltv.com · www.devdiscourse.com · +34 more
- [● 49 SOURCES] Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act. www.durangoherald.com · english.alsiasi.com · newscentraltv.com · www.devdiscourse.com · kioncentralcoast.com · +35 more
- [● 53 SOURCES] The investigation targets ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox. www.notizie.it · www.durangoherald.com · english.alsiasi.com · newscentraltv.com · www.devdiscourse.com · +39 more
- [● 39 SOURCES] The DOJ is investigating whether the White House TV pool's decision to halt coverage violated antitrust laws. www.durangoherald.com · english.alsiasi.com · offthepress.com · yve-style.com · lomazoma.com · +28 more
- [● 50 SOURCES] The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether the decision of the White House television press pool to halt coverage of President Donald Trump violated antitrust law. www.durangoherald.com · english.alsiasi.com · offthepress.com · yve-style.com · lomazoma.com · +39 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The Justice Department issued civil investigative demands to gather communications and records regarding the press pool. world-today-journal.com · lomazoma.com · www.vol.at · 1000noticias.com.py · elnacional.com.py · +2 more