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AT&T Probes White House Influence in Time Warner Case

Company is seeking to call antitrust chief to testify at trial
DOJ lawsuit to block merger set to go to trial March 19

AT&T in Early Talks With U.S. Officials for Time Warner Approval — Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg

By

David McLaughlin and

February 14, 2018, 2:09 PM UTCUpdated onFebruary 14, 2018, 5:01 PM UTC

AT&T Inc. wants to show political tampering as it seeks evidence about whether President Donald Trump influenced the Justice Department’s decision to sue to block the company’s proposed acquisition of Time Warner Inc.

AT&T wants communications between the Justice Department and the White House about the Time Warner takeover, according to a person familiar with the matter. It’s also looking to put the head of the Justice Department’s antitrust division, Makan Delrahim, on the witness stand at trial, the person said.