Federal Judge Tim Kelly says the administration likely violated constitutional protections by revoking White House press credentials for three news organisations.
WASHINGTON: A US federal judge has ordered the administration of President Donald Trump to restore White House press access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ruling that the ban imposed on the news organisations was likely unconstitutional.
US District Judge Tim Kelly issued the order Thursday after the three organisations challenged the administration’s decision in federal court. The outlets had sued Trump and other officials after their White House press credentials were revoked on Sept. 18.
Kelly directed the administration to immediately reinstate the journalists’ press credentials and blocked enforcement of the ban for 14 days while the legal dispute proceeds.
The judge said the government had not provided sufficient evidence to establish that removing the journalists’ access was necessary for national security. He also pointed to Trump’s public statements linking the decision to his criticism of the outlets’ reporting, including accusations that they were untruthful and overly negative.
The administration had argued that access to the White House is a privilege rather than a legal entitlement and that the president has authority to suspend press access. Justice Department lawyers also cited national security concerns in defending the decision.
Kelly, however, questioned whether the targeted news organisations had been given a meaningful opportunity to challenge the removal of their credentials.
He cited previous rulings by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit indicating that journalists are entitled to due process before their White House press passes are revoked.
The news organisations argued that they had received neither advance notice nor an opportunity to contest the decision before their credentials were withdrawn. Their lawyers described the move as an unprecedented and severe restriction on press access.
The case has also drawn support from press freedom organisations and several major news outlets. In a legal brief, they argued that journalists should not lose access to the White House because of disagreements over their editorial views.
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