US Justice Department Investigates 5 Major Networks Over Pool Coverage Boycott Following Trump Restrictions

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating five major television networks for potential antitrust violations after they temporarily suspended White House pool coverage in protest of Donald Trump's press restrictions.

According to U.S. media outlets including the Associated Press and The New York Times on the 10th (local time), the Justice Department stated that it is investigating whether the joint decision by ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News to refuse White House pool coverage violated federal antitrust laws.

On the 9th, the Justice Department sent letters to these networks demanding the submission of communications data and other records exchanged among network officials regarding the operation of pool coverage and the restriction of CNN's White House access.

A Justice Department spokesperson stated, "A group boycott among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Antitrust Act," adding, "We are simply investigating to determine whether these media outlets violated antitrust laws."

The investigation was triggered after the White House revoked the press credentials of reporters from CNN, political outlet Politico, and MS NOW on September 19.

President Trump accused these media outlets of intentionally publishing negative reports, and the White House argued that covering the president is "a privilege, not a right."

In response, the five networks that make up the White House television pool—ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News—protested the move by suspending pool coverage for several days.

The White House television pool operates in a manner where networks jointly share the costs of covering the president, take turns handling coverage, and share the captured footage with other media outlets.

Due to their suspension of pool coverage, footage of major events, such as President Trump welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping, failed to be broadcast by major networks.

The barred media outlets filed a lawsuit, arguing that the White House's action violated the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of the press.

After a court ordered the restoration of access credentials citing the possibility of unconstitutionality, the White House restored the reporters' credentials on September 24, and the other networks resumed pool coverage the following day.

However, the White House continues to block CNN from participating in pool coverage when President Trump travels on Air Force One.

Consequently, pool coverage is still not taking place on days when it is CNN's turn in the rotation, The New York Times reported.

The New York Times evaluated this investigation as an instance where the conflict between the Trump administration and the press has escalated beyond reporting restrictions into legal pressure utilizing antitrust laws.

Criticism has also been raised that the networks' suspension of pool coverage does not constitute an antitrust violation.

William Kovacic, former chairman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), projected that it would be difficult to prove illegality in this case, noting that if the primary purpose of a group boycott is political expression rather than the pursuit of commercial interests, it may not violate antitrust laws.

(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.