US Probes Major TV Networks Over White House Press Coverage Boycott
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC jointly suspended their coverage in September after journalists from CNN, MSNOW and Politico lost their White House credentials, according to reports.
Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington confirmed that the department’s Antitrust Division was reviewing the networks’ actions to determine whether they violated federal competition rules.
“Members of the television press pool have boycotted covering White House events,” Covington said.
“Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act,” she added.
The Sherman Act is a federal law designed to prevent anticompetitive conduct and protect competition in the United States. Investigators are examining whether the networks’ coordinated decision to suspend coverage falls within the law’s restrictions.
The five broadcasters said their move was intended to show solidarity with the organizations whose access had been withdrawn. They argued that the public should continue to receive independent reporting on government activities and decisions.
“No administration should reject a news organization because it objects to its reporting,” they said in a joint statement.
Trump, meanwhile, accused the three affected outlets of spreading “FAKE NEWS.” The White House defended its restrictions by citing national security concerns and alleged breaches of professional standards.
The news organizations challenged the administration’s decision in court, arguing against the restrictions placed on their journalists. US District Judge Timothy Kelly subsequently issued a temporary restraining order restoring their credentials and later extended the order until Tuesday.
Despite the restoration of their credentials, CNN and Politico reportedly continued to face restrictions on access to the Oval Office and Air Force One.
The Justice Department’s inquiry adds a legal dimension to the dispute over media access to the White House, raising questions about the boundaries of competition law when rival broadcasters coordinate their coverage in response to government decisions.
The investigation remains focused on whether the networks’ collective suspension violated federal antitrust rules. The inquiry itself does not establish that any of the broadcasters broke the law.
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