CNN, MS NOW and Politico are asking a federal judge to extend protections preventing the White House from restricting their press access while their lawsuit proceeds.
NEW YORK: CNN, MS NOW and Politico have asked a federal judge to extend an order blocking the White House from restricting their access as they challenge President Donald Trump’s decision to bar the three news organisations.
The outlets asked US District Judge Timothy Kelly in Washington to issue a preliminary injunction that would keep the restrictions on hold until the court reaches a final ruling in the case.
Kelly previously granted a 14-day temporary restraining order, finding that the news organisations were likely to succeed in showing that their press credentials had been revoked without constitutionally adequate due process.
Trump announced the ban on Sept. 18, accusing the outlets of publishing false and misleading coverage. He said the decision reflected what he described as a pattern of unfavorable reporting rather than a response to a single story. The White House also said other media organisations could face similar restrictions.
In a lawsuit filed Sept. 21, CNN, MS NOW and Politico argued that the ban amounted to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment. They also said it violated their Fifth Amendment due process rights because their credentials were revoked without notice or an opportunity to respond.
The Justice Department has defended the restrictions, arguing that Trump acted lawfully after determining that reporting by the outlets on the Iran war and White House construction posed a national security risk by disclosing classified information.
Kelly expressed skepticism in his ruling on the temporary restraining order that national security was the actual motivation behind the credential revocations.
The White House restored the journalists’ access following Kelly’s order, although the news organisations said some reporters were initially still blocked despite the ruling.
The case is part of a broader series of disputes between Trump and news organisations during his presidency. Trump has repeatedly criticised media outlets over coverage he disputes, pursued legal action against several major organisations and changed longstanding practices surrounding White House press access, including giving greater prominence to newer media outlets.
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