The White House has restored access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico after a federal judge ruled that US President Donald Trump’s ban on the three news organisations was likely unconstitutional.
US District Judge Tim Kelly ordered the administration to halt the ban for 14 days, finding that the withdrawal of the outlets’ White House press credentials likely violated their constitutional due process rights.
The reinstatement followed several hours during which journalists from the three organisations remained barred from the White House despite Kelly’s ruling. Politico said one reporter’s credentials were confiscated, while CNN and MS NOW reported that some of their journalists were denied entry.
White House Press Operations Director Micah Stopperich said the administration began reinstating the affected press badges at 7:25 a.m., with reporters able to collect them at the entrance later that morning.
Kelly also questioned the Justice Department’s national security justification for the ban, noting that Trump had said it was prompted by what he considered false or negative coverage.
Trump announced the ban on Friday, accusing the three organisations of reporting “fiction and lies” about him and describing their coverage as a national security concern.
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The three outlets sued Trump and members of his administration, arguing that the action violated constitutional protections for freedom of speech, freedom of the press and due process.
The dispute unfolded as Trump attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York and hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House.
The White House television press pool had suspended coverage earlier in the week in solidarity with CNN. No television pool cameras were present for Xi’s arrival at the White House on Thursday morning.
Attorney Theodore Boutrous, who represents the three outlets, welcomed Kelly’s ruling, saying it supported freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law.
