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Attorney for banned outlets on legal fight over White House press access
PBS • • nation
Key Points:
- A federal judge ordered the White House to restore full access to CNN, MS NOW, and Politico after President Trump banned them last month due to their coverage of his administration, pending the outcome of a legal challenge.
- The judge found that the White House likely violated due process by revoking press passes without notice or clear standards and ruled the action was retaliatory, violating the First Amendment.
- Legal expert Theodore Boutrous emphasized that while the president has discretion over access, restrictions must be reasonable and viewpoint-neutral once a government forum is opened to the press.
- The case highlights broader First Amendment concerns, as exclusion based on political viewpoint could set a precedent for future administrations to similarly restrict press access.
- Over 70 news organizations, including PBS News, have supported the legal effort to restore access, underscoring widespread media solidarity against viewpoint discrimination.
