Three outlets seek emergency hearing on press access
CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists reported being denied entry to the White House grounds on Thursday morning, with some having their press credentials confiscated, despite a federal judge’s order hours earlier temporarily lifting a ban that President Donald Trump had imposed on the three outlets.
Judge Timothy Kelly issued the order in the early hours of Thursday, ruling that Trump’s ban on the outlets “likely violated their constitutional due process rights.” The three outlets had asked the judge to restore their press passes, arguing the exclusion violated their constitutional rights. In a joint statement on Monday, they said they were pursuing legal action to “defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports.”
Trump initially said he banned the outlets because of “fake news.” The White House later cited national security grounds for the exclusion.
The denials Thursday morning came as Trump was preparing to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House ahead of a state dinner, with the standoff expected to disrupt TV coverage of the events.
CNN said some of its journalists were refused entry, including senior White House reporter Betsy Klein, and reported that a producer was allowed to enter. Politico said one of its reporters was denied access and had his press credentials confiscated. MS NOW reported that its White House reporter Laura Barrón-López and a producer were barred and had their passes taken, while another MS NOW producer was admitted.
The White House had not commented on the judge’s ruling as of Thursday. Lawyers for Trump were reported to be weighing further legal action.
Trump first announced the ban last Friday, accusing the three outlets of writing “fiction or lies” about his administration. By Saturday morning, each outlet reported being denied entry to the White House grounds and having press badges confiscated. The three outlets issued a joint statement on Monday announcing legal action.
It remained unclear Thursday whether the refusal to admit some reporters reflected an administrative lag as the White House worked to comply with the order or a deliberate continuation of the ban.
More than 50 media organizations across the ideological spectrum — including Fox News, The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal — filed an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit. Fox News was named among both the amicus filers and the networks that suspended White House coverage.
The three outlets have requested an emergency court hearing, accusing the White House of having “repeatedly violated” Judge Kelly’s order.