A US federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately restore White House access for reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico after their press credentials were revoked.
Judge Timothy Kelly issued the order on Thursday after the three media organisations challenged the restrictions in court, arguing that the ban violated their First Amendment and due process rights.
In his eight-page ruling, Kelly said the revocation of the reporters’ press passes “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,” the judge wrote.
Kelly ordered that the press credentials be reinstated pending further orders from the court or the expiration of the temporary restraining order, which will remain in effect for 14 days.
He also ruled that the order could not be immediately appealed.
The Trump administration had defended the restrictions, arguing that the President has authority to control reporters’ access to restricted areas of the White House.
“Access to the White House is a privilege — not a right,” the Justice Department told the court.
The administration also cited national security concerns, accusing the three outlets of publishing false information and sensitive or classified material.
A White House Press Office letter to CNN cited its reports on the US-Iran war and a story concerning Trump’s plans to construct a military bunker beneath the planned East Wing ballroom.
Similar allegations were made against MS NOW and Politico over their reporting on the Iran war and other issues.
However, Theodore Boutrous, who represented the media organisations, argued that the ban was retaliation for critical reporting.
He told the court that Trump’s announcement of the restrictions did not cite national security concerns and argued that punishing news organisations for reporting information the government did not want published was contrary to First Amendment protections.
Kelly said the stories cited by the administration appeared to be “routine” and questioned whether national security was the actual reason for revoking the reporters’ White House credentials.
“The Court is skeptical — at least on this record — that Defendants’ interest in safeguarding national security is the actual motivation for, or is even advanced by, the revocation of Plaintiffs’ hard passes,” he said.
Reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied access to the White House grounds on Saturday and had their press passes confiscated.
The dispute has also drawn support from other major US media organisations. ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC announced on Monday that they would suspend pool coverage of the White House in solidarity with the affected outlets.
The White House Correspondents’ Association and nearly 50 news organisations also filed a brief urging the court to reverse the restrictions.
Trump later criticised CNN’s continued coverage of him outside the White House, telling a reporter at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, “You shouldn’t be here.”
The White House has since launched a streaming channel, Trump TV, which it said would broadcast presidential remarks and other content around the clock.
