US justice dept probes TV networks over pool coverage

The U.S. Department of Justice is probing five television networks for allegedly boycotting coverage of President Donald Trump's White House events, according to reports on Saturday. The networks, including ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News, temporarily halted their pool coverage of the White House for several days in solidarity with CNN after Trump barred the three outlets from the premises in early November.

The Justice Department contacted the networks on Friday, requesting communications and materials related to the White House TV pool, a rotating group of journalists that provide coverage to other outlets due to limited space. A spokesman for the Justice Department stated that the investigation is to determine if the networks violated the Sherman Act, an antitrust measure.

Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, believes the probe is a pretext for seeking records about the networks' coverage of White House events during the media ban. The networks argue that their decisions about coverage are protected by the First Amendment, and summoning antitrust authority is an attempt to intimidate journalists.

CNN, MSNBC and Politico have already appeared in a Washington court to seek an extension of their White House access.