US: Pols Weigh Against AT&T Time Warner Merger

The telecom-media giant that would be formed if federal regulators approve AT&T $85.4 billion purchase of Time Warner raises antitrust issues, Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine and several US lawmakers said on Sunday.

Kaine said lawmakers and regulators would have to review the deal and “get to the bottom” of questions over whether the merger would decrease competition.

“I’m pro-competition,” Kaine said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “Less concentration, I think, is generally helpful especially in the media.”

Kaine, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s running mate, said he had not had a chance to review the details of the deal. The Clinton campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said at a rally on Saturday after the deal was announced that he would block it if he wins the Nov. 8 election against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

“It’s too much concentration of power in the hands of too few,” said Trump, who has accused the media of being biased against him and his campaign.

The US Justice Department, not the president, has the power to reject such a deal if it violates antitrust laws. AT&T said it is unclear if the Federal Communications Commission will have jurisdiction to review the deal.

Full Content: Reuters

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