Trump barred from blocking CNN, MS NOW and Politico at White House
Photo: Donald Trump (GettyImages)
A US federal court has ordered the Donald Trump administration to restore access to the White House for journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. Judge Tim Kelly ruled that the president's ban was likely unconstitutional, according to Reuters.
Court orders press passes to be restored
US District Judge Tim Kelly ruled that the press passes of journalists from three agencies must be immediately reinstated. At the same time, he barred the administration from imposing restrictions for 14 days.
The ruling came after a lawsuit filed by CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, which challenged Trump's September 18 decision. The news organizations argued that the ban violates the guarantees of freedom of speech and the press enshrined in the First Amendment to the US Constitution, as well as their right to due process.
Court found no threat to national security
Kelly rejected the administration's arguments that the access restrictions were related to national security. According to the judge, the evidence presented was insufficient to justify revoking the journalists' press credentials.
"The record lacks factual support for defendants’ contention that the revocation of plaintiffs' hard passes will in fact protect national security or that national security will be endangered if the court orders their passes reinstated while this litigation proceeds," he said.
At the same time, Trump himself explained the decision by citing complaints about the media's coverage of his activities. On social media, the US President stated that these outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES."
What administration says
Lawyers from the US Department of Justice insisted that access to the White House is a privilege, not a right, and that the president has the authority to restrict it for certain media outlets.
However, Kelly also drew attention to the procedure for revoking press credentials. In his view, journalists may not have been given a real opportunity to appeal the decision before their access was revoked.
US President Donald Trump announced restrictions on access to the White House for CNN, MSNBC, and Politico, explaining the decision by citing what he considered to be the spread of fake news.
Meanwhile, FOX News Media, ABC News, CBS News, CNN, and NBC News suspended their joint coverage of events involving US President Donald Trump.
