The US Justice Department has launched an investigation into five major television networks over a temporary suspension of White House press pool coverage following President Donald Trump’s decision to ban three news organizations, according to media reports.
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC jointly halted their coverage after the White House revoked press credentials for journalists from CNN, MSNOW and Politico in September, CBS News reported.
Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington said the department’s Antitrust Division was examining whether the networks had violated federal competition laws. She noted that coordinated boycotts among competing businesses could breach the Sherman Act, which prohibits certain anti-competitive practices.
The five broadcasters said their decision was intended to demonstrate solidarity with the excluded news organizations. They argued that the public had a right to receive independent reporting on government activities and maintained that administrations should not penalize media outlets over their coverage.
Trump accused the three organizations of publishing what he described as fake news. Meanwhile, the White House defended its restrictions by citing national security concerns and alleged breaches of professional standards.
The affected media organizations subsequently filed a lawsuit challenging the decision to withdraw their journalists’ access.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order restoring their press credentials and later extended the order through Tuesday.
Despite the reinstatement, CNN and Politico journalists reportedly continued to face restrictions on entering the Oval Office and travelling aboard Air Force One.
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