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| Justice department to appeal against AT&T's $81bn takeover of Time Warner | Justice department to appeal against AT&T's $81bn takeover of Time Warner |
| (14 days later) | |
| The US justice department announced on Thursday that it will appeal against a federal judge’s decision to allow AT&T’s landmark takeover of Time Warner. | The US justice department announced on Thursday that it will appeal against a federal judge’s decision to allow AT&T’s landmark takeover of Time Warner. |
| AT&T-Time Warner is Godzilla v Rodan: citizens will get squashed | |
| Last month, in a stinging rebuke to the Trump administration, district judge Richard Leon threw out the government’s objections to the merger and warned the department not to appeal against his decision. | Last month, in a stinging rebuke to the Trump administration, district judge Richard Leon threw out the government’s objections to the merger and warned the department not to appeal against his decision. |
| AT&T’s $81bn takeover of Time Warner, the owner of CNN and HBO among other high-profile assets, has become a political lightning rod after Donald Trump criticized the deal and said it “was not good for the country”. | AT&T’s $81bn takeover of Time Warner, the owner of CNN and HBO among other high-profile assets, has become a political lightning rod after Donald Trump criticized the deal and said it “was not good for the country”. |
| But in June Leon ruled that the government’s objections “rested on improper notions” and warned against an appeal. “I hope the government has the wisdom and courage” not to seek a stay, he said. | But in June Leon ruled that the government’s objections “rested on improper notions” and warned against an appeal. “I hope the government has the wisdom and courage” not to seek a stay, he said. |
| Leon rejected all of the government’s arguments against the deal, one of the largest media mergers ever. | Leon rejected all of the government’s arguments against the deal, one of the largest media mergers ever. |
| On Thursday, AT&T said: “The court’s decision could hardly have been more thorough, fact-based and well researched.” It said it was “surprised” by the government’s decision and “ready to defend the court’s decision”. | On Thursday, AT&T said: “The court’s decision could hardly have been more thorough, fact-based and well researched.” It said it was “surprised” by the government’s decision and “ready to defend the court’s decision”. |
| Media commentators suggested Trump was critical of the deal because of his antipathy for CNN, which has lambasted his presidency and is a regular target for his Twitter attacks. Trump has praised Rupert Murdoch’s decision to pursue a merger with Walt Disney, calling Murdoch to tell him “that this could be a great thing for jobs,” according to the White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders. | Media commentators suggested Trump was critical of the deal because of his antipathy for CNN, which has lambasted his presidency and is a regular target for his Twitter attacks. Trump has praised Rupert Murdoch’s decision to pursue a merger with Walt Disney, calling Murdoch to tell him “that this could be a great thing for jobs,” according to the White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders. |
| Asked about CNN’s potential role in the merger’s difficulties, AT&T’s chief executive officer, Randall Stephenson, said: “Frankly, I don’t know. But nobody should be surprised that the question keeps coming up.” | Asked about CNN’s potential role in the merger’s difficulties, AT&T’s chief executive officer, Randall Stephenson, said: “Frankly, I don’t know. But nobody should be surprised that the question keeps coming up.” |
| The case was further politicized after it emerged that AT&T had paid Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen $600,000 in consultancy fees as it attempted to woo the White House. Stephenson said the hiring had been “a big mistake”. | The case was further politicized after it emerged that AT&T had paid Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen $600,000 in consultancy fees as it attempted to woo the White House. Stephenson said the hiring had been “a big mistake”. |
| AT&T | AT&T |
| Trump administration | Trump administration |
| CNN | CNN |
| Time Warner | Time Warner |
| Media business | Media business |
| Television industry | Television industry |
| Mergers and acquisitions | Mergers and acquisitions |
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