The US Department of Justice announced on Saturday that it is investigating whether television networks violated federal antitrust laws by boycotting coverage from the White House. The probe covers five television networks: ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice stated that a joint boycott among market competitors could constitute a violation of the Sherman Act. This is the first and primary federal law in the United States in the field of competition law, adopted in 1890, which prohibits contracts, agreements or conspiracies that restrict free trade, including joint boycotts. The division for competition protection is conducting an investigation to determine whether the media organisations have broken these laws.
The television networks did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. The context of the probe includes frequent attacks by President Donald Trump on the mainstream media, which he has referred to as fake news on several occasions.
Tensions between the White House and certain media outlets escalated further on 19 September, when the White House barred access to the building for journalists from CNN, Politico and the MS Now network, stripping them of their accreditation. The media outlets in question have sued the administration, claiming that the exclusion violates the First Amendment and that the White House is retaliating against their reporting.
CNN is one of five media outlets — along with ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC — that make up the primary pool of reporters for the White House. These outlets share the costs of covering the president, rotate reporting duties, and share footage with media outlets across the country. All television networks covering the White House, including Fox News, suspended coverage in a show of solidarity and refused to provide alternative coverage.
The White House restored the accreditation on 24 September after a US district judge ruled that the ban was likely unconstitutional and ordered the administration to immediately restore, reinstate and renew access. Disputes over access to specific presidential events and the scheduling of the press pool have continued since then.
