Judge Rejects DOJ Lawsuit, Gives AT&T-Time Warner Deal The Green Light

Court OK

A federal judge has ruled that AT&T can proceed with its $85 billion purchase of TIME WARNER, rejecting the Department of Justice's argument that the deal would violate anti-trust laws. Judge RICHARD LEON's ruling gives the deal the go-ahead without conditions, a stinging rebuke to the Justice Department's opposition. 

The TRUMP administration's opposition to the deal was an exception to the general acceptance of media mergers in recent years as well as a rare attempt to argue that a merger of companies which do not directly compete with each other would violate the law. The administration's disapproval of TIME WARNER's CNN and its coverage of the President raised concerns that the DOJ had brought its lawsuit for political reasons, a charge denied by the department. Antitrust Chief MAKAN DELRAHIM did not indicate TUESDAY whether he will appeal the ruling, which may pave the way for other vertical mergers; AT&T and TIME WARNER are expecting to close the sale on or before JUNE 20th.

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