Judge scolds Live Nation and Justice Department for secret settlement talks | CNN Politics

A federal judge scolded attorneys for the Justice Department and Live Nation for secretly negotiating a settlement to resolve allegations the ticket giant operated as a monopoly while the trial was underway. Judge Arun Subramanian called the head of the Justice Department’s antitrust division, Omar Assefi, and Live Nation’s chief executive, Michael Rapino, into court Tuesday to answer questions after he was blindsided by the deal. On Monday the Justice Department and Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, announced they reached a settlement they said will benefit consumers by giving them more options and lowering prices. More than 30 state attorneys general are also part of the case against Live Nation, but said in court filings they were only given one day to decide whether to join the settlement. As of Tuesday, most of them had not signed onto the deal, raising questions about whether the trial would proceed. Some states have asked for a mistrial and at least 60 days to recast their case. Justice Department’s brewing case against former CIA chief tests its efforts to prosecute Trump foes The judge said he was not ruling on the motion for a mistrial and admonished the states