DOJ investigates five networks over White House pool halt

The Justice Department is investigating whether ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News violated federal antitrust law when they suspended pooled White House coverage after access restrictions on several news organizations. The inquiry is examining the networks’ response, not announcing a finding that they broke the law. Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington said the department’s Antitrust Division is investigating whether the networks’ conduct violated the Sherman Act. She said group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the law. The department has not disclosed evidence or reached a conclusion about whether the networks unlawfully coordinated. People familiar with the matter told The New York Times that department officials contacted the networks on Friday and sought communications and other materials concerning the White House television pool and its coverage decisions. The requests have not been made public, and the account of them has not been independently confirmed in the supplied information.