CNN, MSNOW, and Politico ask federal judge to make White House press access order permanent
The outlets argue the administration continues to block their reporters from the Oval Office and Air Force One, violating previous court rulings.
By Dominic Foster ·
Three major news organizations have asked a federal court to make their access to the White House permanent. CNN, MSNOW, and Politico filed an amended complaint on Wednesday, arguing that the administration is still defying existing orders. They claim the White House continues to exclude their reporters from the rotating press pool.
The legal dispute centers on the president's refusal to allow these specific outlets to cover him in key locations. According to Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., the attorney representing the news groups, the White House blocks access to the Oval Office and Air Force One. Boutrous stated in a written release that these are the exact places where the president most frequently engages with the press.
The outlets contend that the ban constitutes retaliation for reporting that the president dislikes. They argue this action violates the First Amendment's free speech protections. In their filing, the news groups described the situation as "viewpoint discrimination," which is forbidden under the Constitution. They noted that every news organization now faces the risk of similar punishment for coverage deemed insufficiently favorable.
President Trump maintains that he does not have to let outlets with unfavorable reporting onto White House grounds or Air Force One. As of Thursday morning, the White House had not responded to the amended lawsuit. The administration has previously defended the ban as a policy goal to protect national security.
Judge Timothy Kelly of the U.S. District Court recently ruled in favor of the news organizations. On October 13, he expanded a temporary ruling to include a First Amendment violation. Kelly rejected the president's national security argument, stating that the ban resulted from a belief that the reporting was inaccurate and biased. He wrote in his opinion that the action was "unlawful viewpoint discrimination."
The latest filing follows Kelly's determination that the outlets are likely to succeed in their case. The judge found that the administration violated the Fifth Amendment right to due process and the First Amendment right to free speech. The court's recent decision marked a victory for the journalists in a legal battle that pits the president against the media covering him.
The news groups are now seeking a permanent injunction to end the temporary restrictions. They want the court to solidify the judge's previous orders. This step aims to ensure that their reporters can return to the pool without the threat of future exclusion based on the content of their stories.
