NewzSome reporters are still blocked despite a federal judge temporarily blocking Trump’s ban of three news outlets from the White House. A Politico reporter, meanwhile, “was denied access” to the White House on Thursday, and his press credentials were “confiscated,” according to the organization. District Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the White House to “immediately return, reinstate, and restore” the three outlets’ access.
Reporters from Politico, MS Now and CNN were stopped from entering Donald Trump's White House despite a judge ordering their access be restored immediately. A federal court ordered President Trump to reverse his ban on the three news outlets, but reporters were denied access on Thursday. Their lawyers asked the judge to intervene; he ordered the administration to respond by 12:30 p.m.
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — CNN, MS NOW and Politico said their reporters were barred from entering the White House on Thursday despite a court ordering that their access be restored. The three media outlets said their reporters were turned away by the Secret Service when they tried to enter the presidential mansion. A federal judge ruled overnight that the news organisations banned by President Donald Trump last week should have their access to the White House immediately restored.
Judge Timothy Kelly said revoking the press credentials of the media outlets "likely violated their constitutional due process rights." "The 'general rule' is that 'individuals must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before the Government deprives them' of a constitutionally protected interest," Kelly wrote. Trump has long attacked news outlets that have aired critical coverage of him, repeatedly blasting the press as the "enemy of the people." CNN, MS NOW and Politico were barred from the White House on Friday as punishment for distributing what the president branded "fake news" and "fiction and lies." Theodore Boutrous, who is representing the outlets, welcomed the judge's decision. "This is a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law.
We greatly appreciate the court's swift action," Boutrous said in a statement. CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a joint lawsuit asking for a temporary restraining order against the ban on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which upholds the right to a free press. Ahead of the ruling, the Department of Justice had argued Trump can "control reporters' access to restricted presidential areas, such as the Oval Office." "Access to the White House is a privilege -- not a right," it said.
The White House Press Office accused CNN in a letter to the cable news outlet of "trafficking in verifiable falsehoods about national security and other issues, and publishing sensitive or classified information," with similar accusations levelled against MS NOW and Politico. The letter to CNN cited several stories about the US-Iran war and a story on Trump's plans to build a military bunker below the planned East Wing ballroom which allegedly "disclosed 'top-secret' construction details." Kelly appeared unconvinced. "The Court is sceptical -- at least on this record -- that Def…
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