DOJ probes White House TV pool over antitrust laws in Washington
Federal officials in Washington are investigating the television press pool for potential antitrust violations. The probe examines whether broadcasters illegally coordinated a coverage halt against President Donald Trump.
An agency spokesperson announced the inquiry on Saturday. Emily Covington, a spokesperson for the department, said group boycotts among business competitors might violate U.S. law.
“The Antitrust Division is simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws,” she said.
The action follows an incident last month. A pool of five broadcasters stopped presidential coverage in Washington. The administration had barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the property.
Messages seeking comment were sent late Saturday to the five outlets:
- ABC
- CBS
- CNN
- FOX
- NBC
The rotating pool of news outlets covers the president. Last month brought an escalation in Trump’s efforts to restrict news reporters. He targets outlets he finds insufficiently supportive.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued over the ban. A judge handed the three news organizations a reprieve. That order remains in place until Tuesday.
Television pool coverage has resumed. Jose Zamora criticized the administration’s decision on Saturday. He serves as the regional director of the Americas for the Committee to Protect Journalists.
“The government should not use antitrust investigations to intimidate news outlets defending press access. The public’s right to know depends on that access.”
Federal antitrust laws prohibit unfair business practices and collusive deals between competitors. The Antitrust Division reviews mergers, trade pacts and business conduct nationwide. Civil and criminal inquiries often take months to complete in Washington.
Zamora posted his remarks on X. Broadcast representatives did not respond immediately. The legal challenge continues.
