Lawsuit Against Trump Administration: CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO Challenge White House Press Ban
CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO announced Monday that they are suing the Trump administration after their journalists were denied access to the White House, escalating a dispute over press access into a federal court battle.
The three news organizations said they had notified President Donald Trump’s administration that they were filing suit to protect what they describe as their First Amendment rights. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and emergency hearings could take place within days.
Reporters turned away from the White House
The legal action follows events over the weekend, when reporters from CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO were denied entry to the White House after Trump announced that the three outlets would no longer be allowed access.
CNN reporter Betsy Klein, MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner and POLITICO reporter Cheyenne Haslett were among those whose press credentials were deactivated or taken when they attempted to enter the White House grounds.
Trump had said the outlets were being barred because of what he described as “fake news” and negative coverage of his administration. He also suggested that other news organizations could face similar restrictions.
Media organizations cite the First Amendment
CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO argue that the government cannot revoke journalists’ access because officials disagree with the content of their reporting.
In their joint statement, the organizations said the lawsuit is intended to protect press freedom and prevent the government from deciding which news organizations may cover the presidency based on their editorial work.
CNN had previously described the ban as an unconstitutional interference with its reporting and said it would continue covering the administration regardless of physical restrictions on access.
White House has not yet responded to lawsuit
As of Monday morning, the White House had not publicly responded to requests for comment on the newly filed legal action.
The dispute now places the question of White House press access before a federal court. Similar disputes have reached the courts before, including the 2018 case involving CNN correspondent Jim Acosta, whose White House credential was temporarily restored by a federal judge after it had been revoked.
The new case could therefore become another significant legal test of how far an administration may go in restricting access to journalists whose coverage it opposes.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, CNN
By NJ RADAR Team