According to a report by The New York Times and Reuters on October 10, the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating five major television networks: ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News, to determine whether their previous joint decision to suspend broadcasting interviews of Trump’s activities violated federal antitrust laws.
According to people familiar with the matter, officials from the U.S. Department of Justice contacted these television networks on the 9th, asking them to provide communication records and materials related to the White House television media joint interview team.
The White House TV Media Joint Interviews Group is a long-term mechanism, where various television networks jointly undertake the responsibility of filming presidential activities, and distribute the video materials to other news organizations.
In September this year, Trump announced a ban on journalists from CNN, MS NATION news channel, and the American "Politico" from entering the White House, citing "continuous reporting of false news." Subsequently, five television networks decided to jointly boycott the restrictions on access to the White House, suspending the supply of joint interviews with Trump for several days.
The investigation by the United States Department of Justice marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflicts between the Trump administration and the White House press corps.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice, Emily Corwinton, stated in a statement on October 10: "Members of the television media joint interview team publicly indicated that they resisted reporting on activities at the White House and were proud of this. Joint boycotting by commercial competitors may violate the Sherman Antitrust Act."
The anti-monopoly department is conducting an investigation to determine whether these news institutions violated anti-monopoly law.
Previously, after Trump banned three American media outlets—CNN and others—from entering the White House, these three American media companies filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming that the White House’s ban violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. They also alleged that the White House took retaliatory measures due to dissatisfaction with their reporting.
On September 24th, U.S. Federal District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that the White House's ban was potentially unconstitutional, and ordered the Trump administration to “immediately restore and reinstate” the journalists' interviewing rights. Subsequently, the White House restored these journalists’ interviewing privileges.
However, there were still disputes between the two parties regarding whether journalists can participate in certain presidential events, as well as the allocation of interview tasks for joint interview teams.
