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

CNN, MS NOW and Politico have sued the administration of US President Donald Trump after journalists from the three media organisations were barred from the White House and had their press credentials revoked.

The organisations filed the lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia on Monday, September 21, seeking to restore their access to the White House and challenge what they say are violations of their First Amendment rights.

The legal action came two days after reporters from the three outlets were denied entry to the White House. Their press badges were disabled or confiscated after Trump announced that the organisations would no longer be allowed on the premises.

Trump had accused the outlets of reporting what he described as “fiction and lies” about him, his administration and the United States. He also suggested that other media organisations could face similar restrictions.

In a joint statement, CNN, MS NOW and Politico said they were taking legal action to defend their First Amendment rights and challenge the principle that the government can determine what news organisations report or publish.

The dispute escalated on Saturday when reporters from the three organisations arrived at the White House and were turned away. Among those affected were CNN’s Betsy Klein, MS NOW’s Akayla Gardner and Politico’s Cheyenne Haslett, whose credentials were revoked or confiscated.

The lawsuit now places the dispute over White House media access before a federal court. CNN said it expects the case could receive an emergency hearing within the week, while the White House had not immediately commented on the lawsuit when Reuters published its report.

The development follows other disputes between the Trump administration and news organisations over access to the White House. The latest case will test the legal limits of the administration’s authority to restrict journalists’ access to the presidential complex.