US judge orders Trump admin to restore White House access to CNN, MS NOW, Politico | Today’s news
A US federal judge has ordered Donald Trump’s administration to restore access to the White House to reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ruling that the ban was likely unconstitutional, Reuters reported.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued the order in a lawsuit filed by three news organizations challenging the administration’s decision to bar them from the White House.
Trump accused the three organizations of repeatedly publishing what he described as “FICTION and LIES.” The president said this in a post on social media while defending the decision to limit their access.
The US Department of Justice argued that the administration’s decision was justified on national security grounds.
According to CNBC, Justice Department lawyers told the court that “access to the White House is a privilege, not a right.” The department also said that Trump had discovered that those sources had reported classified or sensitive information related to national security.
What did CNN, MS NOW and Politico claim?
The three organizations filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington, DC, saying the restrictions amount to unlawful retaliation for constitutionally protected speech, Reuters reported.
They also accused the administration of violating their due process rights.
“This ban could not be a more direct attack on the First Amendment, or a more flagrant violation of our most basic constitutional principles,” the organizations said.
How did the White House defend the decision?
The White House has argued that the affected organizations can continue to cover the administration without direct access to the Oval Office or other White House areas.
It argued that media journalists could report outside the White House and argued that they should not be able to request access to the president’s office.
“Fake news has no place demanding a seat in the President’s Oval Office,” the White House said in a statement, accusing the media of spreading what it called lies and saying its reporting harms the American public.
what’s next
The court proceedings will now focus on state security justifications for the restrictions and First Amendment claims by media organizations.
Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, is overseeing the case and has ordered access restored while the lawsuit continues.
