AT&T Attacks Justice Department Appeal in Time Warner Case

Company says antitrust claims are without merit, cites past Trump comments

WASHINGTON—AT&T Inc. on Thursday defended a court ruling that allowed it to buy Time Warner, arguing that both the law and current industry realities showed the acquisition wouldn’t harm competition.

The telecom giant made its case for the deal in a 59-page brief filed with a Washington, D.C., federal appeals court, which is considering the Justice Department’s ongoing challenge to the merger.

The...