Earlier today, seven different states have joined the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit to block the AT&T and T-Mobile merger, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington. 

AT&T and T-Mobile logos merged together. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.

Although the states themselves don't have the power to block the deal, they can influence federal regulators and make it tougher for AT&T to close the deal. With the opposition of states that account for a third of the U.S. population, it seems unlikely that AT&T will be able to successfully go through with this merger. 

CNET reports: 

The participation of the states adds another dose of uncertainty to a deal that is already teetering on the edge of collapse. The Justice Department's decision to oppose the merger has thrown AT&T for a loop, leaving the telecommunications giant scrambling to save the deal and rally supporters to its cause.

Initial meetings between AT&T and the Department of Justice are set to start on September 21st.

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