Justice Department investigating TV networks over suspension of press pool after Trump media ban– www.cbsnews.com

The Justice Department is investigating whether the major TV networks, including CBS, violated antitrust laws after they briefly suspended the television press pool system in response to President Trump’s decision last month to ban three news organizations from the White House.

“Members of the television press pool have boycotted covering White House events,” Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington said in a statement provided to CBS News on Saturday. “Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act. The Antitrust Division is simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws.”

It was not immediately clear how the Justice Department was defining the move as a violation of the Sherman Act, which is a longstanding federal law that seeks to prevent monopolistic business behavior and maintain fair competition.

The New York Times was first to report the investigation. CBS News has reached out to the White House and all five networks — ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC — for comment.

In mid-September, Mr. Trump announced that his administration was rescinding the White House credentials of journalists for CNN, MSNOW and Politico over what he alleged was “their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!”

The White House also sent letters to each of the three news outlets informing them that certain articles they had published on topics including the new White House ballroom, the ongoing war with Iran and the Republican midterm convention were threats to national security and violated standards of “professionalism and decorum” for reporters.

Following the move, the five networks that make up the TV press pool jointly announced that they would be suspending their coverage in solidarity. That suspension occurred at a critical moment in that it coincided with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington.