DOJ probes major TV networks over coordinated Trump press pool boycott

The U.S. Justice Department's Antitrust Division has launched an investigation into major television networks (ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News) over their decision to briefly suspend White House press pool coverage in solidarity.

A spokesperson for the department said group boycotts among business competitors might violate US law. “The Antitrust Division is simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws,” they said.

As reported by BBC, the inquiry stems from last month's events when the Trump administration barred specific news outlets (CNN, Politico, and MS NOW) from the White House.

In response, the primary television networks collectively halted their shared pool reporting duties to protest the ban.

DOJ officials argue that commercial competitors engaging in a coordinated group boycott could potentially violate the Sherman Antitrust Act.

The networks received formal notices asking for communications and materials related to the pool suspension.

Press freedom advocates and media organizations have strongly criticized the move, characterizing it as a heavy-handed escalation and an abuse of antitrust enforcement to intimidate news outlets following a federal judge's ruling that the White House's initial media ban was unconstitutional.