DOJ Probes Whether White House TV Pool Boycott Violated Antitrust Law

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Department of Justice spokesperson Emily Covington said Saturday that the department is investigating whether the White House television pool's decision last month to halt coverage of President Donald Trump violated antitrust law. "Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act," she said. "The Antitrust Division is simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws."

The five networks — ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC — form the White House TV pool, sharing the cost of filming presidential events on rotation. The coverage halt followed the administration's move in late September to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. Those three sued, and Judge Timothy Kelly ordered their credentials restored on Sept. 24, with a reprieve in place until Tuesday, Oct. 13.

The New York Times first reported the investigation, saying the outlets were contacted on Friday, Oct. 9. Jose Zamora, the Committee to Protect Journalists' regional director of the Americas, criticized the move on X: "The government should not use antitrust investigations to intimidate news outlets defending press access." Television pool coverage has since resumed.