US Judge Orders White House to Restore Access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico

A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately restore White House press access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico after reporters from the three media organisations were barred from the premises.

Judge Timothy Kelly ruled on Thursday that the revocation of the journalists’ press credentials likely violated their constitutional due process rights.

The three media organisations had filed a joint lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order against the ban, arguing that the administration’s action violated the First Amendment, which protects freedom of the press.

In his eight-page ruling, Kelly ordered that the journalists’ White House credentials be reinstated pending further court orders or the expiration of the temporary restraining order, which will remain in effect for 14 days. He also stated that the order could not be immediately appealed.

The Trump administration had defended the restrictions, arguing that the president has authority to control reporters’ access to restricted areas of the White House, including the Oval Office.

The Department of Justice maintained that access to the White House is a privilege rather than a constitutional right.

The White House Press Office accused CNN, MS NOW and Politico of publishing false or sensitive information relating to national security. It specifically cited reports concerning the US-Iran war and allegations about plans to construct a military bunker beneath a proposed East Wing ballroom.

However, Theodore Boutrous, the lawyer representing the media organisations, argued that Trump’s announcement of the ban did not cite national security as the reason for the restrictions.

He told the court that punishing journalists for reporting information the government would prefer to keep from the public was inconsistent with First Amendment principles.

Judge Kelly said the stories cited by the administration appeared to be “routine” and expressed doubt that national security concerns were the actual reason for revoking the journalists’ press credentials.

The latest dispute is not the first legal battle between Trump and CNN over White House access. During Trump’s first term, Kelly, who was appointed by Trump, ordered the White House to temporarily restore the press pass of a CNN reporter whose credentials had been revoked.

The dispute also prompted the five major US television networks — ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC — to announce that they would temporarily halt pool coverage of the White House in solidarity with CNN.

The White House Correspondents’ Association and nearly 50 other news organisations also submitted a court brief urging the reversal of the restrictions.

Trump later criticised CNN’s continued coverage of him outside the White House, telling a CNN reporter at the United Nations General Assembly in New York that the network should not be covering him.

The White House has also launched a streaming platform known as Trump TV, which it said would provide videos, major presidential remarks and other highlights around the clock.

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