A federal judge has ordered the White House to continue allowing journalists from CNN, MS Now, and Politico access to the building as a lawsuit against the Trump administration unfolds. This ruling comes after the Trump administration blocked access to these outlets in September.
Background
On September 24, Timothy Kelly, a district court judge, granted a 14-day reprieve for the news organizations, which had been banned six days earlier by President Trump due to what he described as their constant reporting of "FAKE NEWS." The judge's preliminary injunction maintains the status quo while the lawsuit progresses.
The media coalition filed their lawsuit on September 21, arguing that the ban violated their rights under the U.S. Constitution. The temporary restraining order that Judge Kelly issued expired on October 8, prompting the media companies to seek a preliminary injunction to lift the ban during the lawsuit, which could take months to resolve.
Court Proceedings
During the proceedings at the E Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, Judge Kelly indicated he was inclined to lift the ban indefinitely. He noted that the government had a "notice problem" that was a significant hurdle for their case. The Trump administration failed to provide advance notice to the affected media companies before revoking their press badges, which the organizations argue are essential for covering the administration.
