Justice Department Probes Major Broadcast Networks for Suspected Antitrust Violations Related to Trump Coverage

The Justice Department announced an investigation into five prominent TV networks—NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, and Fox News—for possibly breaching federal antitrust laws. This inquiry was initiated after these networks momentarily refrained from offering pool coverage of President Donald Trump. A department representative disclosed that ‘civil investigative demands’ were dispatched on Friday.

Emily Covington, a spokeswoman for the department, indicated that the investigation stems from a coordinated boycott by the television press pool, which could contravene the Sherman Act. The pool typically rotates among these networks to record the president’s public activities and share media with other outlets. This investigation surfaces amid ongoing tensions between the White House and the press, as President Trump previously barred CNN, MS Now, and Politico from White House premises.