A federal judge has ordered US President Donald Trump’s administration to restore White House access for journalists from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico, noting that the ban likely violates the Constitution, Reuters reports.
US District Judge Tim Kelly dealt a significant blow to Trump in his battle with the media by ruling to restore their access to the White House. CNN, MSNBC, and Politico filed a lawsuit after Trump issued an order on the 18th of September banning journalists from these outlets from the White House.
Kelly ordered the Trump administration to immediately return the press passes of journalists from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico and barred the imposition of new restrictions for 14 days. The judge rejected the government’s arguments that the ban was implemented in the interest of national security. He stated there was a lack of factual evidence showing that revoking the journalists’ passes would protect the country, or that restoring them while the legal proceedings are ongoing would compromise national security. Kelly added that Trump himself had cited a lack of truthfulness and negativity in the coverage by these specific media outlets as the reason for the ban. Trump wrote on social media that CNN, MSNBC, and Politico should not be able to constantly publish fabrications and lies, while Department of Justice lawyers sought to justify the ban based on national security interests.
On the 21st of September, CNN, MSNBC, and Politico filed a lawsuit against Trump and his administration
in a federal court in Washington, arguing that the ban violated First Amendment rights regarding freedom of speech and the press, as well as the right to due process.
The legal action was initiated just over a month before the midterm elections scheduled for the 3rd of November, which could prove to be a serious test for the Republicans. Trump’s approval ratings have also dropped to record lows, and citizens are increasingly concerned about the cost of living and the war in Iran.
On the 23rd of September, Kelly stated that two legal precedents clearly indicate that journalists are entitled to due process before their White House press passes are revoked. The judge added that it did not appear the White House had given the media an opportunity to contest the decision. A media lawyer told Kelly that the ban imposed on CNN, MSNBC, and Politico was enacted without the legally required prior warning or opportunity to challenge the decision, describing it as an unprecedented, unjustified, and severe penalty. Meanwhile, a Justice Department lawyer pointed out that the Trump administration had provided a sufficient explanation regarding the revocation of press passes in letters sent to the media on the 22nd of September. The judge viewed this statement skeptically, noting that the explanatory letters were sent after the passes had been revoked and after the media had already filed a lawsuit.
In a legal filing on the 22nd of September, the Justice Department emphasized that access to the White House is a privilege, not a right, and that the President has the authority to revoke it.
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