US justice department investigating TV networks over Trump pool coverage

What happened: The US Department of Justice is investigating whether the White House television press pool violated antitrust law by halting coverage of President Donald Trump last month, an agency spokesperson said Saturday. Key numbers: Five broadcasters in the pool: ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC. Why it matters: The Antitrust Division said group boycotts among competitors may violate US law. CPJ's Jose Zamora criticized the probe, saying the government should not use antitrust investigations to intimidate outlets defending press access. Coverage: 7 outlets in 24h

The US Department of Justice is investigating whether the White House television press pool violated antitrust law by halting coverage of President Donald Trump last month, an agency spokesperson said Saturday.

The Antitrust Division said group boycotts among competitors may violate US law. CPJ's Jose Zamora criticized the probe, saying the government should not use antitrust investigations to intimidate outlets defending press access.