CNN, MS NOW and Politico are asking a federal judge to immediately restore their access to the White House, challenging President Donald Trump’s decision to bar the three news organisations from the presidential complex.
The outlets are expected to argue at a Wednesday hearing that the ban violates constitutional protections for freedom of the press and due process. Trump announced the restrictions on Friday, accusing the organisations of publishing what he described as false reporting.
The Trump administration has defended the move in court, arguing that access to the White House is a privilege rather than a guaranteed right and that the president has authority to control access to restricted areas.
The dispute has also disrupted the longstanding system through which major television networks share coverage of presidential movements. Other leading broadcasters suspended pooled coverage after CNN was excluded, while the White House launched its own video stream featuring administration-produced content.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed during Trump’s first presidency, is considering whether to temporarily block the administration’s action while the broader lawsuit proceeds.
The case could have wider implications for how the White House manages press access and the constitutional limits on government restrictions against news organisations.
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