WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Friday after the Department of Justice announced approval of the merger between T-Mobile and Sprint.

“The Department of Justice Antitrust Division has determined that the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, subject to certain divestitures and conditions, will be pro-competitive. I’m hopeful that the transaction will better position the merged firm to compete with Verizon and AT&T in the future, particularly as these carriers seek to roll out nationwide 5G networks,” Sen. Lee said. “That said, I have concerns whenever government joins hands with industry to cobble together a would-be competitor, particularly one who so stridently opposed the merger earlier this year. Time will tell whether this market intervention was sound, but it will no doubt invite similar gamesmanship in future antitrust reviews.”