DOJ Files Lawsuit to Block AT&T-Time Warner Deal (UPDATED)

The Department of Justice is filing suit today to block the merger of AT&T and Time Warner, per multiple reports:

NEW: Justice Department is expected to sue to block AT&T from buying Time Warner, @PaulaReidCBS reports; announcement to come later Monday.

— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 20, 2017

U.S. to sue to stop AT&T from buying Time Warner: source https://t.co/ctF5QTlW9K

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) November 20, 2017

URGENT: The Justice Department is set to file a lawsuit to block AT&T’s takeover of Time Warner, the parent company of CNN, a source familiar with the matter says. I'm joining @BrookeBCNN on CNN now…

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 20, 2017

The Justice Department is set to file a lawsuit today challenging the AT&T-Time Warner deal https://t.co/BoKQFKMLsl

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) November 20, 2017

There were reports recently that the DOJ has been saying Time Warner needs to sell CNN before the merger can be approved. The CEO of AT&T subsequently said in a statement, “Throughout this process, I have never offered to sell CNN and have no intention of doing so.”

UPDATE –– 4:38 pm ET: AT&T has put out this statement:

Full AT&T statement: pic.twitter.com/DEBYoUqYgs

— Peter Kafka (@pkafka) November 20, 2017

UPDATE –– 5:31 pm ET: The DOJ has filed the suit:

MORE: DOJ announces legal challenge to AT&T's acquisition of Time Warner. https://t.co/4MiOnk1MMC pic.twitter.com/Oym0ASbHXC

— ABC News (@ABC) November 20, 2017

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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