Justice Department probes five TV networks over pool coverage pullout
Investigators are checking whether the outlets broke antitrust law by briefly stepping away from White House pool coverage of the president.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
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What happened
The Justice Department is looking into five large TV networks for alleged antitrust violations. The probe follows the outlets briefly pulling their pool coverage. Sources told the New York Times on Saturday about the investigation.
Why it matters
The probe centers on alleged antitrust violations tied to the networks' decision to step back from covering the president. The pool declined to cover him on several days in September and October.
Timeline
- Oct 11, 7:44 AM ET: The Justice Department was reported to be investigating five major TV networks over their briefly pulled pool coverage.
- Oct 12, 11:46 AM ET: The TV press pool was reported to have declined coverage of the president on several days, amid an attempt to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
Coverage
- What’s the White House press pool? (NBC News)
- DOJ investigating 5 major TV networks over response to White House press ban (The Hill)
- Justice Department investigating major TV networks over suspending pool coverage of Trump (NBC News)
- DOJ says it's investigating whether White House TV pool's coverage halt violated antitrust law (wsls.com)
- Justice Department probes TV networks over Trump pool boycott (centraloregondaily.com)
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