CNN, MSNOW, Politico challenge White House ban in court as Trump denies ‘attack’ on free press | Today’s news
Three US-based news outlets, CNN, MSNOW and Politico, issued a joint statement announcing that they are suing the US government for barring them from the White House premises, saying the move is a violation of their First Amendment rights.
“This morning we notified the government that we are filing suit today to protect our First Amendment rights and to defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes,” the three publications said in a joint statement.
“Without notice or process, the White House revoked the credentials of our journalists because they objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, without government intervention,” they added.
According to the joint complaint, which was made public but not yet filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, it says “the Constitution does not permit the President or any other government official to deprive the press of their First Amendment rights and freedoms and property interests without notice or process based solely on his objection to the content of their news.”
All three outlets plan to appeal to the court to restore their access to the White House. During the hearing of the case in court, a separate motion for the issuance of an extraordinary measure will be filed. A CNN representative told the New York Times that the documents would be presented to the court on Monday morning.
The move comes after US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the three stores were banned.
“I am proud to announce that I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House effective immediately as a result of their continued “reporting” of FAKE NEWS!” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday.
“Media Outlets should not be able to continually write or report FICTION and LIES when covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News outlets will follow,” he added.
On Monday, Trump released another message where he sought to clarify his position. He said: “The White House is not launching an attack on the Free Press, something I value. It is launching an attack on FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like a cancer in our beloved United States of America,” adding: “It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated and completely out of control. It is a threat to our national security, NOW and it must be stopped!”
