US judge orders Pentagon to restore press access
Yahoo • • general
Key Points:
- U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman ruled that the Pentagon is defying a court order by imposing new restrictions on credentialed journalists covering the Department of Defense, calling it a "blatant attempt to circumvent a lawful order."
- The judge's earlier injunction required the Pentagon to restore press credentials to reporters after ruling that the department's previous policy violated constitutional protections for news gathering and due process.
- The Pentagon's revised policy restricts reporters' access by requiring escorts inside the building and sets rules on source anonymity, which news organizations argue still violate the court's ruling.
- Only one of the 56 news outlets in the Pentagon Press Association agreed to the new policy, with others surrendering their press passes in protest.
- The Pentagon denies violating the court order, claiming the new policy addresses previous legal issues, while media groups maintain the changes continue to infringe on press freedoms.
