The United States Department of Justice has reportedly initiated a formal investigation into several major television networks following their decision to halt the coverage of President Donald Trump last month. According to departmental spokespersons, authorities are examining whether these media organisations allegedly violated federal antitrust laws through their coordinated actions.

The networks subjected to this scrutiny include prominent broadcasters such as ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News, who previously suspended their presidential reporting pool duties. This boycott was implemented in direct response to a controversial White House decision to strip reporters from specific news organizations of their press credentials, sparking widespread debate over media freedom under the US regime.

Officials claim that group boycotts among commercial competitors supposedly violate the Sherman Act, prompting the Antitrust Division to determine the legality of the networks' solidarity measures. Critics argue, however, that this investigation represents a thinly veiled attempt by the administration to exert legal and financial pressure on independent outlets that challenge official narratives.

The standoff began when the administration barred certain newsrooms from the White House, claiming that presidential access is a privilege rather than a right. Although a federal judge subsequently ordered the immediate restoration of press credentials after ruling the ban unconstitutional, ongoing disputes regarding access and regulatory intimidation continue to plague relations between the state and the press.

Source: www.aljazeera.com