CNN, MS NOW and Politico Sue Trump Administration Over White House Press Ban

CNN, MS NOW and Politico have sued the administration of US President Donald Trump over the revocation of their journalists’ access to the White House.

The three media organisations said on Monday that they filed the case to restore their journalists’ access and challenge what they described as a violation of their First Amendment rights. The lawsuit was filed at the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

The legal action followed Trump’s announcement last Friday that the three outlets would be barred from the White House. The president accused them of repeatedly publishing what he called “FAKE NEWS” and reporting negatively about his administration.

The White House enforced the ban on Saturday, when reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied entry to the White House grounds and had their press credentials confiscated.

In a joint statement, the three organisations said the government should not determine what journalists report or publish. They argued that their credentials were revoked without notice or due process because of objections to their reporting.

The outlets are asking the court to restore their access while the case proceeds. Reuters reported that they are seeking an emergency hearing, potentially as early as this week.

The dispute has drawn attention from press-freedom organisations and other media groups. The White House Correspondents’ Association has called for the affected journalists’ access to be restored, warning that excluding outlets because of their coverage could have broader implications for the White House press corps.

The administration has defended the ban, while the three media organisations maintain that the decision improperly interferes with their ability to cover the US government. The court will now consider the legal challenge and the outlets’ request for renewed access.