Carrera warns that the inquiry can deter press protests before any judgment
Jorge Carrera DomenechLawyer and former judge, writing the Confilegal opinion column as Jorge Carrera Domenech
Writing in Spanish, Carrera argues that the expense of responding to the Justice Department can discourage a newsroom from joining a future coverage protest, regardless of the legal outcome.
“Según su portavoz, los boicots colectivos entre competidores pueden infringir la ley. Es una tesis que algún tribunal tendrá que examinar, y no es este el lugar para resolverla. Pero el mensaje no necesita sentencia para producir efecto. La próxima redacción que se plantee no cubrir un acto en protesta por el trato dado a otra sabrá que antes debe calcular cuánto cuesta contestar a un requerimiento del Departamento de Justicia.”
Analysis
Where this statement fits
Should President Trump bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over their coverage?
On Friday, September 18, 2026, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that, "effective immediately, I am banning" CNN, MS NOW and Politico "from the White House as a result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!" About an hour later, in the Oval Office, he said no particular story prompted the decision, that he does not want the outlets "in my office," and that "somebody has a right to keep them away" if outlets write false stories. The three outlets and press-freedom groups oppose the exclusion, citing constitutional protection for the press, and the White House Correspondents' Association said it "stands in defense of our colleagues at CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO." On Saturday, September 19, MS NOW, CNN and Politico said their White House reporters were refused entry and had press passes confiscated; the White House referred questions to Trump's earlier remarks. The dispute is over whether President Trump should exclude named news organizations from White House access over what they report.
Source and context
Analysis
About this source
Carrera writes in Spanish about access restrictions, regulatory pressure and proposed changes to the press room.
Before the quotation
He discusses the department's argument that coordinated boycotts may violate antitrust law and says a court must assess it.
After the quotation
He separately recognizes that courts have protected the excluded outlets' access.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The matter under scrutiny includes the antitrust investigation following the access dispute. Carrera criticizes its potential chilling effect on newsrooms.
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The Dispute Index. "Carrera warns that the inquiry can deter press protests before any judgment". First published: 2026-10-25. Last updated: 2026-10-25. https://disputeindex.com/events/6746-writing-in-spanish-carrera-argues-that-the-expense