According to three sources with knowledge of the matter, CNN reports the Department of Justice‘s antitrust chief met with AT&T on Monday and told the requirements need to close the deal.
The Justice Department is demanding that AT&T sell Turner Broadcasting, which includes CNN, or sell DirecTV, for approval of the $85 billion merger with Time Warner.
Now another DOJ source said “the parties offered to divest CNN and the DOJ Antitrust Division flatly rejected it.”
Shortly after the DOJ put out that message, AT&T chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson said in a statement he has never offered to sell CNN, nor does he have any intention of doing so.
Justice Department has historically been insulated from political pressure, President Trump has repeatedly criticized CNN as fake news on his social media Twitter account in the past year. Which has some pundits say the DOJ is carrying out payback with it deal requirements.
