Federal Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore White House Access for CNN, Politico, and MS NOW
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order blocking the ban for 14 days.
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate White House press credentials for CNN, Politico, and MS NOW, temporarily blocking the ban that President Donald Trump imposed last week. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday, ruling that access for the three outlets must be reinstated while they pursue their legal challenge.
The order will remain in effect for 14 days. Trump announced the ban on the outlets, citing their reporting as "FICTION and LIES." Following the announcement, reporters from CNN, Politico, and MS NOW were denied entry to the White House, with their press credentials deactivated or confiscated.
Lawyers for the Justice Department had argued that White House press access is a privilege, not a right, and defended the president's authority to determine who receives credentials. In response to the ban, White House television pool members from Fox News Media, ABC News, CBS News, CNN, and NBC News announced they had agreed to suspend their pooled coverage of the president.