Justice Department investigates major television networks over press pool boycott

The United States Department of Justice has launched an investigation into five major television news networks over their decision to suspend pool coverage of President Donald Trump. According to reports from The Wrap, Variety, Reuters, and The New York Times, federal officials are examining whether ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC violated federal antitrust laws by jointly boycotting selected White House events. [1][2][4][5]

The Wrap and Variety reported that Department of Justice spokesperson Emily Covington stated the Antitrust Division is investigating to determine if the news organizations violated antitrust statutes. Covington stated that group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act after members of the television press pool proudly boycotted covering White House events. [1][2]

The network boycott followed actions by the Trump administration to deny White House access to CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. Variety and The Wrap reported that the five networks temporarily suspended their joint pool operations in response to those access restrictions. [1][2]

A press pool is an arrangement where a group of news organizations combine resources to collect news and share a central pool feed with broadcast members. Yahoo News UK also noted the federal probe into the press pool boycott. [3][8]