The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News for a possible coordinated boycott

The United States Department of Justice has opened an antitrust investigation into ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News to determine whether the five networks violated federal law after temporarily suspending the broadcast of footage from President Donald Trump’s events.

The investigation concerns the joint system for covering events at the White House. The Antitrust Division asked the television networks to hand over correspondence and messages related to the decision made in September, after the Trump administration revoked press credentials for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico.

The networks suspended their participation in the “White House TV pool” for several days, refusing to replace the excluded press teams. The system allows newsrooms to share filming costs and responsibilities, with the footage distributed to multiple media organizations.

The Department of Justice is examining whether the coordinated action constituted a boycott among competitors, which could violate the Sherman Act, the 1890 federal law banning certain anticompetitive practices.

The conflict escalated after Donald Trump accused the three publications of broadcasting false information. On September 24, federal judge Timothy Kelly ordered their access to the White House restored, deeming the ban unconstitutional. Joint broadcasts subsequently resumed, but tensions between the administration and news organizations continued.