Justice Department investigates TV networks over Trump pool coverage

The Justice Department is investigating CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox News after they temporarily declined White House television pool duties last month. Civil investigative demands went out Friday. In the pool system, networks rotate recording the president's public appearances and share the footage with other outlets. Emily Covington said members of the television press pool boycotted covering White House events and that group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act; she said the Antitrust Division is investigating whether the organizations violated the antitrust laws. The decline followed President Trump barring CNN, MS Now and Politico from White House grounds. The three sued claiming a First Amendment violation. A judge ordered temporary restoration of access for 14 days, and a federal judge this week extended the order to Tuesday. The five networks said in a joint statement that the public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government and that no administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting. Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, called the investigation another and even more brazen attempt to try to intimidate journalists. ABC said it has not received notification but expects to; NBC, CBS and CNN declined to comment; Fox and the White House did not immediately respond. No contested facts appear among the sourced outlets.