Justice Department investigating major TV networks over suspending pool coverage of Trump

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an antitrust inquiry into five major television broadcast networks following their temporary refusal to handle pool reporting duties for President Donald Trump, according to an agency spokesperson.

The probe focuses on ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC, the group of news organizations that coordinate the White House television pool. A department official stated that authorities issued civil investigative demands on Friday as part of the review, which was first revealed by The New York Times.

Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington stated on Saturday that members of the press pool had engaged in a boycott of White House events. She explained that collective boycotts conducted by commercial competitors could potentially breach the Sherman Act, adding that the department's Antitrust Division is looking into the situation to see if antitrust statutes were breached by the news organizations.

The White House television pool operates as a shared service where the participating networks take turns documenting the president's travels and public engagements. The designated outlet on duty records the proceedings and then distributes the resulting video footage, audio recordings, and logistical information to fellow members and external subscriber news organizations.

The current friction follows a decision last month by the administration to ban CNN, Politico, and MS Now from White House grounds over their news reporting. In response to CNN being removed from the standard rotation, the other networks briefly halted their participation in the pool system. However, individual networks maintained independent reporting on events that remained open to the general media.

Following legal challenges filed by the excluded organizations alleging First Amendment violations, a federal judge ordered the administration to temporarily restore access. During that period, the five television networks issued a collective statement emphasizing that the public requires independent information and arguing that no presidential administration should bar outlets over objections to their coverage.

Press freedom advocates have strongly condemned the antitrust inquiry. Bruce D. Brown, head of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, remarked that news organizations retain constitutional protections over their editorial decisions and labeled the federal inquiry an overt effort to intimidate members of the media.

The White House and Fox News did not immediately comment on the matter, while representatives for NBC, CBS, and CNN declined to provide statements. ABC News noted that while it had not formally received the agency's investigative demand as of Saturday, it anticipated receiving one.