Judge orders AP journalists' White House access restored
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore access for the news agency Associated Press to White House events, according to NBC News.
US District Judge Trevor McFadden, appointed by Trump, ordered the administration to "put the AP on an equal playing field as similarly situated outlets, despite the AP’s use of disfavored terminology."
This refers to the fact that AP refused to refer to the Mexican Gulf as "American" after President Donald Trump renamed it in January. As a result, the agency was denied access to cover White House events. In response, the agency filed a lawsuit in February.
According to Associated Press representative Lauren Easton, the news agency is "gratified by the court’s decision."
"Today’s ruling affirms the fundamental right of the press and public to speak freely without government retaliation," Easton said in a statement. "This is a freedom guaranteed for all Americans in the US Constitution."
In his ruling, the judge dismissed the administration's argument that AP's request for media access to such events was a “demand for extra special access.”
“That is not what the AP is asking for, and it is not what the Court orders. All the AP wants, and all it gets, is a level playing field,” McFadden wrote.
The judge also clarified the meaning of his decision. Specifically, according to the First Amendment of the US Constitution, if the government opens the doors to certain journalists for access to the Oval Office, the East Room, or another location, it cannot subsequently close those doors to other journalists based on differing viewpoints.
He also stated that the order would be suspended until Sunday to give the Trump administration time to appeal to the appeals court.
“Defendants may pursue their favored litigation tactics, but the Court must address the merits of the relief requested,” McFadden said.
Trump and media
In March, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that cuts seven federal agencies, including the US Agency for Global Media, which oversaw outlets like Radio Free Europe and Voice of America. As the US government halted funding, employees were sent on forced leave.
However, the media took legal action against the Trump administration. At the end of last month, a court temporarily banned the shutdown of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. The judge ruled that it was likely that legislation had been violated.
