Sen. Blumenthal joins effort to block AT&T-Time Warner merger

Sen. Richard Blumenthal joined a coalition of senators trying to pressure the Department of Justice into rejecting AT&T”™s $85 billion bid to acquire Time Warner.

richard blumenthal AT&T Time Warner merger — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal

In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the senators argued that the proposed merger will violate the principles of net neutrality and put consumers at a disadvantage.
“While we cannot possibly predict all the harms that could arise from this deal, we maintain that AT&T’s proposed acquisition of Time Warner would result in higher prices, fewer choices, and worse service for consumers,” the senators wrote. “We hope you’ll take a stand for U.S. consumers and businesses and closely scrutinize the transaction. Should you determine that the substantial harms arising from the transaction outweigh the purported benefits, we urge you to reject it.”

The coalition against the merger was led by Minnesota Democrat Sen. Al Franken and consisted of 11 Democratic senators plus Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders.