CNN, MS NOW, Politico Take Trump Administration to Court Over White House Access

CNN, MS NOW and Politico have notified the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump that they are filing a lawsuit after their reporters were denied access to the White House.

The three media organizations announced the decision in a joint statement on Monday, two days after their reporters were blocked from entering the White House and had their press credentials deactivated.

The administration had earlier barred the outlets after Trump accused them of publishing what he described as “fake news.”

CNN reporter Betsy Klein and MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner said they were turned away from the White House after their press badges were disabled. Politico also reported that its White House correspondent, Cheyenne Haslett, was denied entry and had her badge confiscated.

The three organizations said the lawsuit would seek to protect their First Amendment rights and challenge what they described as government interference with independent journalism.

The White House had not immediately responded to a request for comment.

The dispute comes amid continuing tensions between Trump and several news organizations over media coverage of his administration. The White House Correspondents’ Association has also called for the three outlets to have their access restored.

The association’s president, Jacqui Heinrich, said the issue could affect the broader ability of the press to scrutinize elected officials regardless of whether the government agrees with their reporting.

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