Justice Department Investigating TV Networks Over Decision to Suspend Press Pool

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the television networks that comprise the primary White House television press pool, weighing whether their decision to suspend the pool amid the Trump administrations’s feud with CNN, MS NOW and Politico violates antitrust laws.

“Members of the television press pool have boycotted covering White House events,” Department of Justice spokeswoman Emily Covington said in a statement Saturday. “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.”

A network source said that the DOJ reached out on Friday demanding communications related to the decision to suspend the pool.

Last month, the White House barred the three news outlets from the White House grounds after President Donald Trump expressed frustration with their coverage. A federal judge subsequently restored access, though the outlets have not had the same level of access they had previously.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico also filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after the White House revoked their press credentials.

With CNN and MS NOW suspended, the White House TV press pool suspended operations, with CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox News all showing solidarity with their colleagues. The pool is also responsible for the costs associated with coverage.

Still, a federal antitrust investigation represents a sharp escalation, regardless of the legal merits of any case that may come out of it. The White House also launched its own YouTube channel, Trump TV, to pipe live coverage of events to viewers.