The United States Department of Justice is investigating five major television networks—ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News—after they temporarily suspended broadcasts related to President Donald Trump, according to reports from the New York Times and AFP.
In September, President Trump barred access to the White House for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, accusing them of spreading “false information.” These outlets subsequently appealed to the courts, claiming this restriction was a “direct violation of the First Amendment” of the U.S. Constitution, which ensures press freedom. A federal judge later overturned the ban.
Major Networks Halt White House Coverage
Due to the ban, the five major U.S. networks halted their joint pool coverage from the White House for several days in solidarity with CNN. The pool is a rotating group of accredited journalists who accompany the president and provide footage and information to other media outlets on that day.
Representatives from the Justice Department reached out to the television networks on Friday, requesting documents related to the White House television pool, as reported by the New York Times, citing six sources.
Emily Covington, spokesperson for the Justice Department, stated that the five networks “boycotted the coverage of White House events.” She added, “Boycotts among commercial competitors may violate the Sherman Act,” an antitrust law.
Press Decisions Protected by the First Amendment
President Trump has long criticized the media for its unfavorable coverage, often labeling the press as the “enemy of the people.”
According to Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the Justice Department’s investigation “appears to be a pretext to gather information on how these networks cover daily events at the White House during a ban imposed by the president himself.”
He emphasized that decisions made by media organizations regarding coverage are protected by the First Amendment, and invoking antitrust legislation represents a further attempt to intimidate journalists.
On Thursday, CNN, MS NOW, and Politico requested a federal judge to indefinitely extend the restoration of their access to the White House.
