WASHINGTON — The Justice Department said it is investigating five major TV broadcast networks for potentially violating federal antitrust laws after the networks temporarily declined to provide pool coverage of President Donald Trump, a department spokesperson said.The investigation into the networks that make up the White House TV press pool — NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN and Fox News — is underway, and the department sent out “civil investigative demands” on Friday, according to a Justice Department official.
“Members of the television press pool have boycotted covering White House events.Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act.
The Antitrust Division is simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws,” department spokeswoman Emily Covington said Saturday.The pool is a rotating group of networks that share duties of recording the president’s activities during public appearances and travel.
The network performing pool duty then distributes information and media, such as video footage and audio, to other outlets.The New York Times first reported the investigation.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.ABC News said it has not received any notification from the Justice Department but expects to.
Representatives for NBC, CBS and CNN declined to comment.Fox did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The investigation appears to be the latest move from the White House in its escalating feud against the press corps.Last month, Trump barred CNN, MS Now and Politico from the White House grounds, citing what he said was “their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” The other networks in the TV pool briefly declined to participate in pool duties after CNN was removed from its spot in the rotation.
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