CNN Gains White House Access After Judge Orders Reinstatement
A Trump-appointed judge orders CNN and others to regain White House access, sparking media tensions.
2 min read
A Trump-appointed judge has granted CNN, MSNOW, and Politico temporary access to the White House, overturning a ban imposed by former President Donald Trump for reporting he called ‘fake news.’ The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, mandates a 14-day temporary restraining order requiring the White House to restore media access.
Early Morning Access Attempts
Judge Kelly’s ruling was published early Thursday at about 1:30 a.m. ET. Just four and a half hours later, at 6 a.m., CNN reporter Betsy Klein and a photojournalist attempted to enter the White House. However, the guards had not yet received guidance from the press office, and they barred the journalists from entry.
CNN noted on its website that there was no reason provided for the refusal and stated it would continue to pursue access as regular business hours began. Another CNN producer was later allowed into the White House, likely after the guards were informed that press passes had been restored.
Judge Rejects National Security Claims
Judge Kelly cited the urgent need for a free press and ordered the return of 78 journalists’ credentials for at least two weeks while further litigation proceeds. He rejected the administration’s national security argument, stating there was no evidence to support the claim that any of the disputed stories contained classified information or had damaged national security.
“Nothing in the record that predates this suit suggests that the revocation of Plaintiffs’ hard passes was motivated by national security concerns,” Kelly wrote. “Certainly, that is not what President Trump said when he announced that he was ‘banning’ Plaintiffs from the White House — instead, he focused on the alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity of Plaintiffs’ reporting,” the judge added.
Due Process Violation
The judge also noted that the White House failed to provide the journalists with advance notice that concerns about their reporting could lead to the cancellation of their passes. “The ‘general rule’ is that ‘individuals must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before the Government deprives them’ of a constitutionally protected interest,” Kelly wrote in his ruling.
Legal Victory for Media
Theodore Boutrous Jr., the lead attorney for the news organizations, welcomed Kelly’s order and the speed with which it was issued. “This is a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process, and the rule of law,” Boutrous said in a statement. “We greatly appreciate the court’s swift action.”
Source: PJ Media
