US approval of Paramount/Warner Bros. deal surprised DOJ lawyers, report says

The U.S. Department of Justice approved the $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance on Friday, stating an eight-month investigation by career staff found no harm to competition or consumers. However, The Wall Street Journal reported that the DOJ career lawyers leading the investigation were leaning towards recommending a lawsuit, believing the merger would be anticompetitive and violate antitrust law. According to sources familiar with the matter, senior DOJ leaders closed the investigation before the career staffers could formally object to their concerns. Senator Elizabeth Warren commented on the report, suggesting the approval might have been a political favor and that the public needs transparency regarding the decision. The report indicates a significant divergence between the career staff's assessment and the final decision made by DOJ senior leadership.