- In an amicus briefing, a set of former Justice Dept. officials is weighing in with concern over whether President Trump had improper influence over the DOJ's decision to pursue blocking the $85B merger of AT&T (T -0.1%) and Time Warner (TWX -0.1%).
- The group includes Preet Bharara (the Manhattan U.S. attorney removed by Trump) and John Dean, former Nixon White House counsel and attorney general.
- They're asking the court to review whether there was a possible agenda at work behind the decision to sue.
- “President Trump has urged a criminal investigation of his political rivals; he has suggested that he can instruct the Department to halt investigations into his associates; and he has claimed an ‘absolute right to do what I want to do with the Justice Department,’ ” the filing says.
- “Indeed, this case is being pursued under a cloud, with a perception — at least by some — that DOJ brought this case at the behest of President Trump in order to punish CNN for what he viewed as unfavorable coverage of his administration.”
- Now read: AT&T's Exceptional Dividend Safety Just Got Better
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