CNN, MS NOW, and Politico have asked a federal judge to extend a court order blocking their ban from the White House. The news outlets are fighting a move by President Donald Trump, who they allege is engaging in unlawful viewpoint discrimination.
The case centers on the balance between a president's authority to manage access to the White House and the constitutional rights of the press to report freely, with implications for media access and government transparency.
CNN, MS NOW, and Politico have requested a federal judge to extend a court order that currently blocks President Donald Trump's administration from barring them from the White House. The news organizations are seeking a preliminary injunction to preserve their access while their lawsuit against the ban proceeds.
In their September 21 lawsuit, the outlets argued that Trump's decision to ban them constitutes unlawful viewpoint discrimination, violating their First Amendment rights to free speech and a free press. US District Judge Timothy Kelly had previously issued a 14-day temporary restraining order blocking the bans, stating that the outlets' rights to fair legal treatment were likely violated.
The Justice Department, however, contended that Trump acted lawfully in banning the outlets, asserting that their coverage threatened national security by revealing classified information. Trump himself stated in a September 18 social media post that the bans were a response to the outlets reporting "FAKE NEWS" and "FICTION and LIES."
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