Judge Orders Trump to Restore White House Access to CNN, Politico, and MS NOW
Federal judge orders Trump to immediately restore White House access for CNN, Politico, and MS NOW after blocking their coverage.
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A federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to immediately restore White House access for journalists from CNN, Politico, and MS NOW, ruling that the media outlets must be granted necessary permissions without delay. The decision came after a lawsuit filed by the news organizations, which challenged Trump’s earlier ban on their access to the White House.
Legal Battle Over Press Access
U.S. District Judge Tim Kelly issued the directive on Thursday, stating that the three media outlets had met the legal criteria for a temporary restraining order. The order, effective for 14 days, requires the White House to reinstate their access immediately. The judge emphasized that the plaintiffs had demonstrated that their press passes were revoked without due process.
Trump had previously announced a ban on access for these outlets, calling them ‘Fake News Media Outlets’ and accusing them of constantly publishing ‘FICTION and LIES.’ The judge’s ruling criticized this approach, noting that it violated the First Amendment by singling out specific media for their content.
Media Solidarity and Legal Context
The ban led to a rare move among U.S. broadcasters, with five outlets halting pool coverage of the White House in solidarity with CNN. The Associated Press reported that Judge Kelly, whom Trump nominated in 2017, had previously ordered the restoration of a CNN journalist’s access in a similar case in 2018.
Temporary restraining orders are typically used to maintain the status quo while a case is reviewed further. The White House has yet to comment on the ruling, and the president’s legal team may pursue further action. The case highlights the ongoing tensions between the administration and the media over press access and freedom of speech.
Source: Breitbart
