Judge Orders Trump to Restore Press Passes for CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO
A federal judge has mandated that the Trump administration immediately restore White House press credentials to CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO, marking a significant setback for the president in his ongoing conflict with the media. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order on September 24, requiring officials to "immediately return, reinstate, and restore" the hard-pass credentials that had been revoked after the president barred these outlets from White House grounds.
The judge noted that the administration provided insufficient evidence to support its claims of national security concerns as justification for the ban. According to court documents, the order will remain in effect for 14 days unless further court action is taken. Judge Kelly determined that the news organizations were likely to succeed in their argument that the administration stripped their reporters of access without adequate due process, stating, "This is a high bar, but Plaintiffs have met it."
The judge also expressed skepticism regarding the administration's rationale for the ban, highlighting that the government's justification for national security was not substantiated by evidence prior to the lawsuit. He pointed out that the president's initial comments focused on his dissatisfaction with the coverage from these outlets rather than any legitimate security issues.
Press Credentials and First Amendment Rights
The lawsuit was initiated after reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO attempted to enter the White House and found their credentials disabled. The outlets contended that the ban violated the First Amendment and deprived their journalists of due process. CNN has been covering the White House since the Carter administration, while MS NOW has maintained coverage since 1996, and POLITICO has been reporting from the White House since its inception in 2007.
Cleared for Release
During an emergency hearing, a Justice Department attorney argued that access to the White House is a "privilege, not a right," asserting that the president must have the authority to act in matters of national security. However, attorneys for the news organizations countered that the national security justification only emerged after the litigation began. Judge Kelly ultimately concluded that the administration had not provided adequate support for this defense at this stage of the case.
While the temporary ruling does not resolve the broader lawsuit, it prevents the administration from enforcing the ban while the legal battle continues. Following the ruling, reporters from the affected organizations reported continued denial of entry to the White House, prompting them to seek an urgent hearing regarding compliance with the judge's order. As of the morning of September 24, access to the White House was reportedly restored for these journalists.
