Omeed Assefi, head of the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust division, stated the Paramount-Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery will not receive political fast-track approval.
In a Reuters interview, Assefi confirmed the review process will be fair and thorough. The official rejected suggestions that the deal might benefit from political connections.
The Justice Department indicated the merger will face the same scrutiny as any large-scale transaction. This public stance underscores a commitment to aggressive merger enforcement.
Market reports showed no immediate reaction to the announcement.