CNN, MS NOW and Politico have sued the administration of US President Donald Trump after their journalists were barred from the White House and their press credentials revoked.
The three media organisations announced the legal action on Monday, saying they were seeking to restore their access and defend their First Amendment rights.
The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
The organisations are challenging the decision to exclude their reporters from the White House after Trump criticised their coverage.
In a joint statement, the three outlets said they had notified the government of the lawsuit to defend the principle that the government should not determine what the press reports or publishes.
They also said their journalists’ credentials were revoked without prior notice or a process for challenging the decision.
Diaspora Digital Media reports that Trump announced the ban on Friday, accusing CNN, MS NOW and Politico of reporting what he described as “FAKE NEWS” about him, his administration and the United States.
He also suggested that other media organisations could face similar restrictions.
Trump later defended the decision, saying media outlets should not be allowed to publish what he considers false reports about his administration.
The three organisations, however, have rejected the accusations and said they would continue covering the administration.
Reporters Denied White House Access
The ban was enforced on Saturday when reporters from the three outlets arrived at the White House.
CNN’s Betsy Klein, MS NOW’s Akayla Gardner and Politico’s Cheyenne Haslett were among the journalists denied entry. Their press credentials were deactivated or confiscated.
The dispute has now moved to federal court, where the three organisations are asking for their White House access to be restored.
CNN was also removed from its scheduled role as the television pool representative for Monday, according to Reuters. The network had been scheduled to accompany Trump to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
The White House had not immediately responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit, according to Reuters and AP.
The legal battle adds to a broader dispute between Trump’s administration and several major US news organisations over access, reporting and the constitutional protections surrounding freedom of the press.
