DOJ says it’s investigating whether White House TV pool’s coverage halt violated antitrust law

The U.S. Department of Justice is probing whether the White House television press pool's decision to stop covering President Donald Trump last month violated antitrust law, a spokesperson for the agency announced on Saturday. According to Emily Covington, a spokesperson for the DOJ, if multiple business competitors conspire, such actions may be deemed unlawful under U.S. antitrust regulations.

Covington explained that the Antitrust Division is merely investigating the situation to ascertain if the news organizations breached antitrust laws.

The inquiry unfolded after the television pool comprising five broadcasters suspended presidential coverage following the administration's decision to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. The five outlets - ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, and NBC - were contacted for comment late Saturday. The White House press pool, a rotating group of news outlets covering the president, has come to symbolize the broader battle surrounding the president's attempts to control the content of news reports, which is perceived as a form of free speech and a crucial component of American democracy.

The recent events represented a significant escalation in Trump's attempts to limit news reporters and outlets he deemed unsupportive. Both CNN, MS NOW, and Politico had filed lawsuits against the administration over the days-long ban, which was later lifted by a judge. The investigation has reportedly resumed. Jose Zamora, the Committee to Protect Journalists' regional director for the Americas, expressed criticism of the administration's move to investigate, stating that the government should not employ antitrust probes to intimidate news outlets advocating for press access. He emphasized that the public's right to know is dependent on such access.