Judge extends White House access to banned media outlets CNN, MS Now and Politico
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- A federal judge ordered the White House to continue allowing CNN, MS Now, and Politico journalists access to the building amid a lawsuit challenging their ban by the Trump administration over alleged "fake news" reporting.
- Judge Timothy Kelly granted a preliminary injunction, ruling that the ban likely violates the journalists' due process and First Amendment rights, emphasizing that access cannot be revoked based on editorial or viewpoint bias.
- The Trump administration failed to give advance notice before revoking press credentials, violating court precedent, and President Trump’s public statements confirmed the ban was intended to punish unfavorable reporting.
- While the White House has mostly complied with the ruling, journalists have sometimes been restricted from covering specific areas like Air Force One or the Oval Office, with the administration narrowly interpreting the judge’s order.
- Media lawyers hailed the ruling as a defense of press freedom, stating the ban was an unconstitutional attempt to suppress critical reporting, and the court’s injunction will maintain press access during the ongoing legal process.
