CNN, MS NOW and Politico sue Trump administration over White House access ban

CNN, MS NOW and Politico have sued the Trump administration over the revocation of their journalists’ White House credentials, asking a federal court to restore their access.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Washington on Monday, September 21, after reporters from all three organisations were prevented from entering the White House over the weekend.

The organisations argue that the ban violates their rights under the First Amendment, including protections for speech and the press, as well as their Fifth Amendment due-process rights.

Outlets seek emergency relief

The three organisations are seeking a temporary restraining order that would block the administration from enforcing the ban while the case proceeds.

Their journalists had permanent White House credentials before the administration revoked them.

The lawsuit argues that the government cannot withdraw that access because it objects to the content of an organisation’s reporting without providing adequate notice or a process through which the decision can be challenged.

The case has been assigned to US District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee. Emergency hearings could take place this week.

Trump defends exclusions

Trump announced the exclusions on Friday and has defended the decision by accusing the three organisations of producing “fake news.”

On Monday, he said the White House was not attacking the free press but targeting what he described as false reporting. He also claimed, without providing evidence, that such reporting represented a national-security threat.

The administration’s action has also affected the White House television pool.

CNN had been scheduled to provide pool coverage on Monday. After it was prevented from doing so, the other major television networks suspended presidential pool coverage rather than replace CNN in the rotation.

Court will test limits of White House authority

The dispute follows previous legal battles over White House press access.

During Trump’s first term, a federal judge ordered the White House to restore CNN correspondent Jim Acosta’s credentials after finding that the process used to revoke them violated his due-process rights.

A separate 1977 federal appeals court decision established procedural protections governing the denial of permanent White House press passes.

The current case concerns a broader exclusion of three entire news organisations from White House grounds.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico argue that the decision amounts to unconstitutional punishment for their reporting.

The Trump administration disputes that characterisation.

The federal court will now determine whether the White House can revoke established press access under these circumstances and whether the process used to do so complied with the Constitution.

Sources

• Reuters: CNN, MS NOW and Politico file lawsuit over White House access ban
• Associated Press: news organisations sue over White House access restrictions