A US federal judge has extended White House access for journalists from , MS NOW and Politico. In a written ruling, Judge Timothy Kelly said President Donald Trump likely acted unlawfully when he sought to bar them from the White House. The decision builds on an emergency order Kelly issued on September 24 that restored the reporters’ access.
The judge has also issued a permanent injunction. It will remain in effect until he reaches a final judgment in the lawsuit filed by the news organisations, unless an appeals court lifts it. Under the earlier order, the journalists had been allowed onto White House grounds on a temporary basis.
Outlets say the ban was retaliation for coverage
The news organisations and press freedom groups have accused Trump of unconstitutionally retaliating against journalists over coverage he dislikes. The outlets say the revocation of their White House passes was unlawful and accuse the administration of inventing baseless national security concerns to justify it.
In their lawsuit, the outlets argue the ban violated free speech and free press protections under the First Amendment. They also say it denied them due process, meaning fair treatment from the government. Kelly had earlier found that the ban “likely violated their constitutional due process rights” and ordered access restored immediately.
Trump announced the ban in September on his social media platform. He said , Politico and MS NOW “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES” when covering the president. The Justice Department has defended the measure as legally justified on national security grounds.
Hearing centres on alleged attempts to shape coverage
Kelly held a hearing on October 8 to weigh arguments from the news outlets and the Justice Department on whether to extend protection for the journalists. The Justice Department maintained that the bans were fair and justified.
Theodore Boutrous, an attorney for the outlets, told the judge that the president’s stance was unusual. “Here we have the unusual situation where the president himself has said he wants to chill speech. He wants to coerce better coverage,” Boutrous said during the hearing.
Justice Department lawyer Michael Velchik gave the opposing view. “, MS NOW and Politico engaged in apparently indefensible conduct,” Velchik said.
Ruling lands weeks before US midterm elections
The legal fight is unfolding just weeks before the November 3 US midterm elections. Trump’s fellow Republicans are working to keep control of Congress in that vote.
Trump’s job approval ratings are at record lows in opinion polls, according to the report, amid concerns over issues including inflation and the Iran war. The case adds to a wider pattern in which Trump has denied basic access to many major news organisations, personally attacked journalists over their reporting, and filed lawsuits against several outlets.
