A federal judge presiding over a newspaper antitrust case has ordered the Hearst Corp. to explain statements they say the Justice Department used to pressure the company not to close the Examiner. Calls placed to the Justice Department requesting comment were not immediately returned. The antitrust suit was filed by Clint Reilly, a former mayoral candidate and a failed bidder for the Examiner, who says Hearst is trying to boost its profits by creating an illegal monopoly. Hearst is attempting to dissolve the joint operating agreement that has tied the morning Chronicle and the afternoon Examiner since 1965.
Lawyers say they expect the judge to rule within about two weeks.