Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Sep 24: A federal judge on Thursday ordered the White House to immediately restore access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, temporarily blocking President Donald Trump's decision to bar the three news organisations from the White House.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly granted a 14-day temporary restraining order while the outlets' legal challenge proceeds. He said the news organisations were likely to succeed in their claim that their credentials had been revoked without due process.
Kelly noted that the administration did not dispute that the three outlets had not received notice or an opportunity to respond before their White House credentials were revoked.
Trump announced the ban last week, accusing the outlets of publishing what he described as false and negative coverage. The three organisations subsequently filed a lawsuit seeking restoration of their access, arguing that the decision violated their First Amendment and due process rights.
The White House had argued that the decision was connected to national security concerns and alleged that the organisations had published sensitive security information and misinformation. In letters sent to the outlets after the ban, the administration also cited alleged violations of professional and decorum standards.
Kelly, however, pointed to legal precedent requiring the government to establish standards of conduct before revoking a journalist's White House hard pass. He noted that the outlets received the administration's letters only after their credentials had already been revoked.
The judge's order temporarily restores access to the White House while the broader legal dispute continues. The administration can challenge the order through the appeals process.
The case has drawn support from several media organisations, including the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the White House Correspondents' Association. A group of 49 news and media organisations also filed a brief supporting CNN, MS NOW and Politico, arguing that the ban raised First Amendment concerns.
CNN is part of the White House television pool alongside ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC. Following the ban, the other members suspended pooled coverage of the president in support of CNN.