Justice Department Defends White House Ban on Media Outlets

The U.S. Justice Department has filed court documents asserting that three media outlets banned from the White House engaged in reporting that "threatened national security" and "trafficked in verifiable falsehoods." The department is preparing to defend the administration's decision in court.

Last week, President Donald Trump barred CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from accessing the White House, citing their reporting as "fake news." Following the confiscation of their reporters' press credentials and denial of entry, the three organizations jointly initiated legal action, deeming the ban unconstitutional.

A judge is scheduled to rule on Wednesday regarding whether to issue a temporary order lifting the ban pending a full hearing. According to a court filing submitted in the District of Columbia, the Justice Department presented the White House's compilation of "reporting incidents" to the outlets prior to the ban. The filing specifically references several stories concerning construction at the White House, including reports about a security bunker, the construction of a new ballroom, and an investigation into an internal information leak. The department's filing further states that "access to the White House is a privilege, not a right."

The three media organizations contend that the ban violates their First Amendment rights, which prohibit the government from restricting freedom of the press. In a joint statement announcing their legal action, they declared, "Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists' credentials because it objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism free from government interference."

In response to the ban, major television networks have withdrawn from a shared media arrangement for distributing video and images of the president, known as the pool. Shortly thereafter, the White House launched its own streaming channel, "Trump TV," which provides a continuous feed of clips featuring the president.