CNN, MS NOW And Politico Say They Are Suing The Trump Administration After Their Reporters Were Barred From The White House And Had Their Press Credentials Revoked
CNN, MS NOW and Politico said Monday they have notified President Donald Trump’s administration that they are filing a lawsuit over the White House’s decision to revoke their reporters’ access.
The announcement comes two days after journalists from all three organizations were turned away from the White House and had their credentials disabled or confiscated. Trump announced Friday that he was barring the outlets because of reporting he characterized as “fake news.”
“I am banning” CNN, MS NOW and Politico “from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” Trump wrote on social media Friday. He later told reporters that he was tired of coverage he considered dishonest, while offering few details at the time about how the ban would be enforced.
By Saturday, however, the restrictions were being enforced.
Reporters Turned Away From White House
CNN White House reporter Betsy Klein and MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner said they were turned away while attempting to enter the White House grounds. Their credentials had been deactivated.
Politico White House reporter Cheyenne Haslett was also denied entry and had her badge confiscated, according to the Associated Press.
All three organizations defended their journalists and indicated they were prepared to challenge the administration’s action.
CNN said it would continue its responsibility of holding government institutions accountable. Politico Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Greenberger said the organization would “vigorously defend our First Amendment rights.”
MS NOW said the White House belongs to the American people and that it would take necessary steps to defend its constitutional rights and the role of independent journalism.
First Amendment Questions Surround Media Ban
Press organizations and First Amendment advocates have raised questions about whether the administration can exclude journalists because it objects to their reporting.
The National Press Club criticized Trump’s announcement Friday, arguing that removing access based on coverage amounts to government retaliation against particular viewpoints.
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The White House Correspondents’ Association called for the three outlets’ access to be restored, warning that a standard used against one news organization could later be applied to others.
The dispute centers in part on the constitutional concept of viewpoint discrimination, which generally prohibits the government from penalizing speakers because officials disagree with their views.
Trump Has Escalated Battles With News Organizations
The fight is the latest confrontation between Trump and news organizations during his second term.
The administration previously restricted Associated Press reporters from certain White House events after the AP declined to exclusively adopt Trump’s preferred name, “Gulf of America,” for the Gulf of Mexico. The AP sued over the restrictions, and litigation remains ongoing.
Trump has also pursued legal disputes involving other major media organizations, while his administration has clashed with broadcasters and individual journalists.
The latest restrictions could also affect the longstanding television press pool that follows the president and provides coverage to news organizations that cannot have reporters present at every presidential event.
Trump has not indicated how long the bans on CNN, MS NOW and Politico will remain in effect.
