Judge Blocks Trump’s White House Media Ban for CNN, Politico and MS NOW
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately reinstate access to the White House for three news organisations after ruling the move likely violated their constitutional due process rights.
Judge Kelly Issues 14-Day Restraining Order
District of Columbia Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order requiring officials to reinstate hard passes for the three outlets following a legal challenge launched after reporters had their credentials confiscated.
The administration defended the action in court by accusing the publications of spreading false information and threatening national security.
Judge Kelly rejected those arguments. He noted that the president made no mention of national security during his initial announcement and that the official record lacked factual support for the claims.
White House Ballroom Reporting Sparks Dispute
The legal dispute centers on articles published by the outlets concerning construction at the White House, including work on a new ballroom.
According to the court ruling, the journalists who wrote the disputed stories did not hold hard passes in most cases. For the remaining instances, the judge found that the administration failed to demonstrate any link between a reporter possessing a hard pass and the publication of those specific stories.
The court also dismissed declarations from defense department officials submitted by the administration, stating those officials lacked direct knowledge of White House reporting operations.
Legal Vindications and Industry-Wide Pushback
Ted Boutrous, the lawyer representing the news organizations, called the decision a strong ruling that vindicates freedom of the press, due process, and the rule of law.
The court battle drew widespread participation from the broader news industry. Forty-nine media organizations, including Fox News, The New York Times, and CBS News, filed a joint legal brief supporting the lawsuit.
The protest also extended to daily operations when major television networks pulled out of White House pool duties, a cost-sharing arrangement used to broadcast presidential events to the public.
Evaluating Next Steps in Washington
The White House has not yet commented on the ruling, and attorneys representing the president are evaluating potential further legal steps.