According to three sources with knowledge of the matter, the Department of Justice's antitrust chief met with AT&T on Monday and offered a choice: If you want us to approve your purchase of Time Warner, either sell off CNN's parent unit, Turner, or sell DirecTV. Otherwise, we'll see you in court.

The question is what led to that. According to a DOJ source, the companies made an offer to put CNN up for sale in order to get the deal done. Another DOJ source said "the parties offered to divest CNN and the DOJ Antitrust Division flatly rejected it."

Shortly after the DOJ put out that message, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson sent out a statement denying it.

"Until now, we've never commented on our discussions with the DOJ. But given DOJ's statement this afternoon, it's important to set the record straight. Throughout this process, I have never offered to sell CNN and have no intention of doing so," Stephenson said.