Court Orders Trump Administration to Restore Access for CNN and Others

Court Orders Trump Administration to Restore Access for CNN and Others

A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore White House press access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ruling that the decision to remove their credentials was likely unconstitutional.

US District Judge Tim Kelly issued the temporary order after the three media organisations challenged the administration’s decision in court.

Kelly directed the White House to immediately return the journalists’ press passes. The order will remain in effect for 14 days while the court considers the wider legal dispute.

The case followed President Donald Trump’s September 18 decision to restrict the three outlets’ access to the White House.

During the hearing, Kelly referred to previous court rulings requiring journalists to receive notice of alleged violations and an opportunity to respond before their White House credentials are suspended or revoked.

A Justice Department lawyer argued that the administration had adequately explained its decision in letters sent to the affected media organisations on Tuesday.

The judge, however, questioned the timing, noting that the letters were issued after the press credentials had already been withdrawn and after the media organisations had filed their lawsuit.

Trump had accused the three outlets of repeatedly publishing what he described as “FICTION and LIES” and argued that they should not continue to have White House access.

Justice Department lawyers have defended the restrictions on national security grounds, while maintaining that access to the White House is a privilege rather than an entitlement.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued Trump and members of his administration in federal court in Washington, arguing that the restrictions violated First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and the press, as well as their due process rights.

The organisations asked the court to immediately restore their access while their broader legal challenge continues.

The case has also attracted support from press freedom groups and several major news organisations.

In a legal brief filed Wednesday, they argued that removing journalists and news organisations from White House access because of their perceived editorial positions conflicts with established US Supreme Court protections for the press.

The brief was signed by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Reuters, The Washington Post and Fox News, among others.

For now, the judge’s temporary order allows journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico to regain White House access while the court considers the wider constitutional challenge.