Washington DC: In a major setback for Donald Trump, a US federal judge on Wednesday night (local time) lifted the ban on media coverage by CNN, MS NOW
and Politico journalists in the White House, terming the move "unconstitutional", reported Reuters. The judge directed President Donald Trump’s administration to reinstate White House access for journalists from these media outlets. US District Judge Tim Kelly issued the order in response to a lawsuit filed by the three news organisations challenging the ban imposed by Trump on September 18. Trump had alleged on social media that the outlets repeatedly published “fiction and lies”, while Justice Department lawyers defended the restrictions by citing national security concerns. Earlier in the day, the judge questioned whether the Trump administration followed proper procedures when it barred three news organisations from the White House complex and revoked their hard press passes. Notably, Kelly is a Trump appointee. he observed that due process "wasn't followed here". CNN, Politico and MS NOW brought a First Amendment lawsuit after being denied access to the White House grounds on Saturday. The five major television networks that make up the rotating press pool covering President Donald Trump have since withdrawn from the arrangement in solidarity with the three organisations. The judge said he would consider the argument offered by both sides and issue his ruling as soon as possible, leaving in place — at least for now — the President's block. "These are urgent matters," Theodore Boutrous, a lawyer representing the three media organisations, told the court. "We're at war. World leaders are coming to Washington."
Department Of Justice defended The Ban:
On Tuesday, the Trump administration defended its decision to bar journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. The Justice Department said that the media houses can be barred from the White House at the US President’s will.
The department, in a court filing, argued that “access to the White House is a privilege, not a right," reported CNN. The filing further contended that Trump has the authority to restrict access to private sections of the White House to safeguard sensitive national security information.
