NewzA federal judge has extended an order blocking the Trump administration from banning reporters for three news outlets from the White House District court judge Timothy Kelly was ruling after the Trump administration blocked access to the three outlets in SeptemberA federal judge ordered the White House on Tuesday to continue allowing journalists from CNN, MS Now and Politico to access the building as the media coalition’s lawsuit against the Trump administration plays out.Timothy Kelly, a district court judge, had on 24 September granted a 14-day reprieve for the news organizations, which six days earlier had been banned by the president in an extraordinary move from entering the White House grounds “as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS”. A federal judge extended access to the White House for CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists, ruling on Tuesday that President Donald Trump likely broke the law when he tried to ban them, in the latest ruling against him in the press freedom dispute.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a written decision elaborating on his September 24 emergency order reinstating access for the journalists. The news organisations and press freedom groups have accused Trump of unconstitutional retaliation against journalists for coverage he does not like. Kelly’s order last month gave CNN, MS NOW, and Politico journalists temporary access to the White House grounds.
The judge issued a preliminary injunction on Tuesday that will remain in effect until he issues a final judgment in the lawsuit brought by the news organisations, unless an appeals court lifts it. Past presidents have battled with the press, but Trump’s campaign against the media has been unprecedented. He has upended decades of tradition by denying basic access to many major news organisations, launching personal attacks on journalists for their reporting and elevating media outlets seen as more sympathetic to the administration.
He has also filed lawsuits against multiple news outlets. Trump announced the ban in September on his social media platform, saying those news organisations “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States.” The Justice Department has emphasised Trump’s contention that the ban is legally justified on national security grounds. The outlets have said the revocation of their White House passes was unlawful retaliation for their news coverage and accused the Trump administration of manufacturing meritless national security concerns to justify the ban.
The outlets said in a lawsuit that the ban violated the US Constitution’s First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and a free press, as well as their rights to due process, meaning fair treatment by the government. The White House on September 24 reinstated the CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists after the judge decided the ban “likely violated their constitutional due process rights,” and ordered their access immediately restored. The judge, who Trump appointed in 2017 during his first presidential term, also raised doubts about the US Justice Departme…
Donald Trump announced the ban on social media in September, accusing the news organisations of repeatedly publishing false reports and lies about him. (EPA Images pic)WASHINGTON: A federal judge extended access to the White House for CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists, deciding on Tuesday that President Donald Trump likely broke the law when he tried to ban them, in the latest ruling against him in the press freedom dispute.US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a written decision that elaborated on his Sept 24 emergency order that reinstated access for the journalists. The news organizations and press freedom groups have accused Trump of unconstitutional retaliation against journalists for coverage he does not like.Kelly's order last month gave the CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists access to the White House grounds on a temporary basis.
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