What Is the Sherman Act? Why DOJ Investigating Networks Over Trump Coverage
DOJ is investigating whether major TV networks violated antitrust law by suspending White House pool coverage.
The Justice Department is investigating whether five major television networks violated federal antitrust law by suspending pooled coverage of President Donald Trump after CNN was barred from the White House. ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News could face allegations under the Sherman Act, which prohibits agreements that restrain trade or monopolize markets.
The inquiry comes after the networks halted pooled coverage for several days following CNN's exclusion from the White House, which the administration justified by citing "purposefully negative stories" by the network. The networks later resumed coverage after a temporary restraining order was issued by a U.S. District Judge on September 24, requiring the White House to restore access to CNN, Politico, and MS NOW.
The Department of Justice has publicly acknowledged the investigation into the networks' actions. The Sherman Act, established in 1890, targets agreements among competitors to restrain trade and bars monopolization or attempts to monopolize a market. If the investigation concludes that the networks' coordinated decision to suspend pooled coverage amounted to a group boycott, they could face civil enforcement actions or, in some cases, criminal prosecution.
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