A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately reinstate White House access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The three outlets were barred from the White House by President Trump on Friday as punishment for distributing what he branded "fake news" and "fiction and lies." The outlets filed a joint lawsuit asking for a temporary restraining order against the ban on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
Judge Timothy Kelly found that the revocation of press passes "likely violated their constitutional due process rights," according to the eight-page ruling issued Thursday. The judge said that press credentials held by employees of the three outlets will be reinstated "until further Order of the Court or the expiration of this Temporary Restraining Order", which is to remain in effect for 14 days. Kelly added that the order cannot be immediately appealed.
The White House Press Office had accused CNN of "trafficking in verifiable falsehoods about national security and other issues, and publishing sensitive or classified information." Similar accusations were leveled against MS NOW and Politico. The letter to CNN cited several stories about the US-Iran war and a story on Trump's plans to build a military bunker below the planned East Wing ballroom.
The Department of Justice had argued that Trump can "control reporters' access to restricted presidential areas, such as the Oval Office." "Access to the White House is a privilege -- not a right," it said. However, Judge Kelly was skeptical of the White House's motivations, saying that the stories identified in letters to the outlets were "routine."
Journalists for the three news organizations were denied access to the White House grounds on Saturday and had their passes confiscated. The White House Correspondents' Association and nearly 50 news organizations filed a brief with the court calling for the bans on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico to be reversed.
The ban came at a time when Trump's approval ratings are at record lows, his Republican Party risks losing control of Congress in November's midterm elections, and the Middle East conflict drags on with no end in sight. In a rare move, the top five US broadcasters said Monday that they were halting pool coverage of the White House in solidarity with CNN.
Trump appeared to suggest on Tuesday that CNN should not be covering him outside of the White House either. "I'm surprised that CNN is here covering me. You shouldn't be here," Trump told a reporter at the UN General Assembly in New York. The White House launched a streaming channel, Trump TV, on Monday which it said would show "top videos, major remarks, and must-see highlights streaming 24/7 and updated in real time."
Key points
- A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate White House access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico.
- The ban was imposed as punishment for the outlets distributing what Trump branded "fake news" and "fiction and lies."
- The judge's ruling is a temporary restraining order that will remain in effect for 14 days.
