AT&T's Stephenson: 'We got our day in court and the system worked'

AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson told CNBC on Friday he feels "relief" at winning the company's court case against the government and completing its purchase of Time Warner.

AT&T got its day in court and "the system worked," Stephenson said on "Squawk Box."

"We live in an amazing country," he reflected. "We have three co-equal branches of government. The checks and balances in this situation worked exactly the way they were designed over 200 years ago."

The $85.4 billion acquisition closed late Thursday, shortly after the Justice Department said it would not apply for a stay of a federal judge's ruling that let the deal go forward. However, the DOJ could still appeal the decision even after the completion of the deal.


AT&T CEO on his reaction to judge's ruling allowing Time Warner deal from CNBC.


Stephenson said he's not worried about government retribution.  He also said he feels he has all the right people in place to lead the various divisions, and that AT&T plans to invest in the new businesses being brought into the fold.