Three Outlets Push for Permanent Press Access
CNN, MSNOW, and Politico claim the White House continues to violate court orders by keeping their reporters out of the presidential pool.
By Miguel Navarro ·
Three news organizations filed an amended lawsuit on Wednesday seeking a permanent court order to secure their access to President Donald Trump. The filing follows a ruling two weeks ago that found the White House likely violated the outlets' constitutional rights.
The legal dispute centers on the exclusion of CNN, MSNOW, and Politico from the rotating press pool. This group covers the president in the Oval Office and on Air Force One. The outlets argue the administration is retaliating against them for specific reports that Trump dislikes.
The case traces back to earlier temporary rulings by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly. On Oct. 13, Kelly expanded a prior decision that had found a violation of the Fifth Amendment right to due process. He also ruled in favor of the outlets on their First Amendment claim, stating that the ban constituted unlawful viewpoint discrimination.
Kelly rejected the administration's argument that the ban was necessary for national security. He noted that Trump had stated the ban resulted from his belief that the outlets' reporting was inaccurate and biased. The judge wrote that the government taking action against coverage it does not like is fundamentally improper.
Attorney Theodore J. Boutrous Jr. represented the three outlets in the new filing. He stated that the White House continues to block reporters from the locations where the president most frequently engages with the press. Boutrous argued this ongoing exclusion violates the judge's previous directives for a full return to the pool.
The outlets warned in their document that every news organization now faces the risk of similar punishment if their coverage is not deemed favorable. They stated that this practice deprives the public of current and complete information about its government. Trump maintains that he is not required to allow news outlets with whom he disagrees onto White House grounds.
The White House had not responded to the amended lawsuit as of Thursday morning. The next step in the legal process involves the court's decision on whether to convert the temporary protective orders into a permanent final judgment. The ruling will determine the long-term status of these specific reporters' access to the president.
Source: The Boston Globe
