Fox’s 1 Million Donation to Melania Trump Initiative Raises Eyebrows Amid Roku Review

Donation during deal review

The American Economic Liberties Project called for a congressional investigation after the Justice Department approved Fox’s $22 billion acquisition of Roku. The group said Fox’s donation to a fund supporting scholarships for young people who have been in foster care was made while the deal was under review.

Lee Hepner, the AELP’s senior legal counsel, said the donation during the review should raise alarm. He argued that Congress should examine such transactions and address what he described as corruption and growing consolidation of power.

Justice Department approved acquisition

The Justice Department concluded that Fox was unlikely to prioritize its own content on Roku. It found Fox would face monetary and reputational harm if it tried, and said that made such conduct unlikely.

The department said it accepted Fox’s pledge to keep Roku an open and neutral content partner after the merger, and closed its investigation. Roku brings together platforms including Netflix, Hulu and HBO Max.

More scrutiny expected

The Independent sought comment from Fox, the Justice Department and the Office of the First Lady. The article provides no responses from those offices. Warren’s report argued that the number of mergers suggested companies viewed the period as favorable for strategies that could face more objections under a less business-friendly administration.