WASHINGTON: The White House on Thursday reinstated access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore their press credentials, finding that the ban was likely unconstitutional.
The reinstatement came after several hours of uncertainty during which journalists from the three news organisations were reportedly still prevented from entering the White House grounds despite the court order.
The organisations subsequently sought an emergency hearing before US District Judge Tim Kelly, who had issued the ruling overnight in a press-freedom case brought by the three outlets.
Judge Kelly ordered the administration to halt the ban for 14 days, finding that the revocation of the journalists’ White House credentials “likely violated their constitutional due process rights.”
Kelly also questioned the Justice Department’s national security arguments used to justify the restrictions. His ruling noted that President Donald Trump had himself said the action was prompted by what he described as false or negative coverage by the news organisations.
The White House later told the court that it had begun reinstating the affected journalists’ press badges. Micah Stopperich, the White House director of press operations, said in a court filing that the process began at 7:25am, with badges delivered to the entry gate for journalists to collect at about 9:55am.
After receiving the declaration, Kelly rejected the news organisations’ request for an emergency hearing but allowed them to notify the court of any further developments during the day.
Press access dispute
The dispute marked one of the sharpest recent confrontations between the Trump administration and major US news organisations, unfolding during a significant diplomatic week for the president.
Trump was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and was also due to host Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House on Thursday.
READ ALSO: US Judge Orders White House to Restore Access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico
It remained unclear whether members of the White House television press pool would resume pooled coverage following CNN’s return to the White House. Earlier in the week, television networks had suspended pooled coverage in solidarity with CNN.
No television pool cameras were in place for Xi’s arrival on the White House’s South Lawn on Thursday morning. Fox News, MS NOW and CNN also did not broadcast the leaders’ arrival ceremony live.
Trump had announced the ban last Friday through his social media platform, accusing the three news organisations of repeatedly reporting what he called “FICTION and LIES” in their coverage of the president.
The legal dispute now places the administration’s restrictions on White House press access under renewed judicial scrutiny, with the temporary order in effect for 14 days while the case proceeds.
