The Justice Department is investigating whether major television networks, including CBS, violated antitrust laws after briefly suspending the television news pool system in response to President Trump’s decision. last month to ban three White House news agencies.
“Members of the television press have boycotted coverage of events at the White House,” Justice Department spokeswoman Emily Covington said in a statement sent to CBS News on Saturday. “Group boycotts between business competitors may violate the Sherman Act. The Antitrust Division is simply investigating whether these news organizations violated the antitrust laws.”
It was not immediately clear how the Justice Department viewed the move as a violation of the Sherman Act, a longstanding federal law aimed at preventing monopolistic corporate behavior and maintaining fair competition.
The New York Times was first to report the investigation. CBS News has reached out to the White House and all five networks – ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC – for comment.
In mid-September, Mr. Trump announced that his administration was canceling the White House credentials of journalists from CNN, MSNOW and Politico because of what he claimed was “their consistent ‘reporting’ of FAKE NEWS!”
The White House also sent letters to each of the three media outlets informing them that certain stories they had published on topics such as the new White House ballroom, the ongoing war with Iran, and the midterm Republican convention posed threats to national security and violated standards of “professionalism and decorum” for journalists.
Following this decision, the five channels that make up the television news pool jointly announced that they would suspend their coverage in solidarity. This suspension came at a critical time in the sense that it coincided with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington.
In a collective statement at the time, the five networks said: “The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate and independent information about its government. No administration should reject a news organization because it objects to its reporting.
The TV press pool covers the president’s travels and events on a rotating basis, providing video to other news organizations.
CNN, MSNOW and Politico immediately filed a complaint for their access to be restored, and U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly subsequently granted a temporary restraining order against the president’s ban, and their credentials have been restored.
However, despite reinstating their credentials, the White House continued to refuse to allow CNN and Politico into the Oval Office or aboard Air Force One.
This restraining order was expected to expire on Thursdaybut Kelly extended it until next Tuesday while he continues to review the case.
Both CBS News and CNN are part of Skydance, the parent company created following the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery finalized earlier this week.
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