A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore White House access to journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, temporarily blocking President Donald Trump’s ban on the three news organisations.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day restraining order after the outlets argued that their press passes had been revoked in retaliation for coverage the president considered unfavourable.
Judge Kelly said the organisations were likely to succeed in showing that their access had been withdrawn without proper due process. He ordered officials to “immediately return, reinstate, and restore” the journalists’ credentials.
The administration had argued that access to the White House was a privilege rather than a right, and claimed that reporting by the outlets had raised national security concerns. But Judge Kelly said the government had provided little evidence that revoking their passes would protect national security.
He also questioned the standards cited by the White House, describing one measure relating to professionalism and conduct as too vague to justify such a serious penalty.
Trump announced the ban on September 18, accusing CNN, MS NOW and Politico of spreading what he called “fake news”. Reporters from the three organisations were subsequently refused entry to the White House complex and had their passes taken by the Secret Service.
The outlets filed a joint lawsuit in Washington, claiming that the decision breached First Amendment protections for freedom of the press and violated their constitutional right to due process.
The case was heard by Judge Kelly, who was appointed by Mr Trump during his first term. He previously ordered the restoration of access for former CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after the White House revoked his press pass in 2018.
The ruling represents an early legal setback for the administration, although it does not settle the wider case. Lawyers for the three news organisations welcomed the decision, while the Justice Department is expected to challenge it.
There was continued uncertainty at the White House after the order was issued, with journalists from the affected outlets reporting that some were still being denied entry and that at least one press credential had been confiscated.
