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

The escalating confrontation between President Donald Trump and major American news organisations has moved to court, with CNN, MS NOW and Politico filing a First Amendment lawsuit against the White House over the administration’s decision to bar their journalists.

The three organisations announced the legal action Monday, accusing the White House of revoking their press credentials without notice or due process because of their reporting.

“This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes”, they said in a joint statement.

The lawsuit followed Trump’s announcement Friday that the three outlets would be barred from the White House. He also suggested that other news organisations could face similar restrictions.

Trump has defended the decision by complaining about what he described as negative coverage.

“If they want to write them, that’s fine. I don’t have to let them into the people’s house”, the President stated.

The White House restrictions have already affected the organisations’ ability to cover the administration.

 MS NOW reporter, Akayla Gardner, CNN reporter, Betsy Klein, and Politico reporter, Cheyenne Haslett, were denied entry to the White House grounds on Saturday after their press credentials were deactivated last week.

CNN and MS NOW were also blocked from using television equipment and designated camera positions, while reporters from the three organisations lost access to workspaces inside the complex.

CNN was subsequently removed from Monday’s television pool assignment and from coverage of Trump’s trip to New York.

The three news organisations, however, have vowed to continue covering the administration despite the restrictions.

At the heart of the lawsuit is the First Amendment principle against government discrimination based on the viewpoint or content of protected speech.

The organisations are expected to rely on a 1977 federal appeals court ruling involving The Nation reporter Robert Sherrill, which held that White House press access could not be denied on the basis of a journalist’s speech or in a manner that discriminated against protected expression.

Trump’s previous administration also faced court battles over press access, including the 2018 dispute involving former CNN correspondent Jim Acosta.

First Amendment lawyer Ted Boutrous, who represented CNN in that case, is representing CNN, MS NOW and Politico in the latest lawsuit.