US Judge Blocks White House Ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico
A US federal judge has ordered the White House to restore press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ruling the ban likely violated constitutional protections.
A federal judge has ordered the White House to immediately restore press access for three news organisations — CNN, MS NOW and Politico — after finding that the ban likely breached due process and First Amendment protections.
The ruling was issued by Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed by President Donald Trump. His order directs the White House to reinstate the outlets' access without delay.
In his decision, Kelly held that the restrictions on the three organisations probably violated the constitutional guarantee of due process as well as the First Amendment's protections for press freedom. The order marks a legal setback for the White House's effort to limit access for certain media outlets.
The case centred on the exclusion of the three outlets from regular press access. The judge's ruling restores their ability to cover the White House alongside other credentialed media.
The decision underscores the ongoing tension between the executive branch and the press over access to presidential proceedings, and it reaffirms the role of the courts in reviewing such restrictions.