WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico regained access to the White House on Thursday after a federal judge temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s ban on the three news organizations. Some journalists were initially turned away despite the order, and CNN and MS NOW said staff members later faced separate restrictions at an event for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the administration to restore the reporters’ credentials and stop enforcing the ban for 14 days while their lawsuit continues. Kelly found that the outlets were likely to succeed on their claim that the White House revoked their press passes without adequate notice or an opportunity to challenge the decision. His order did not settle the full case.
The three organizations sued after Trump announced the ban Sept. 18, accusing them of publishing false reports. Justice Department lawyers later argued that their coverage raised national security concerns and that White House access was a privilege the president could suspend. Kelly said the government had offered little factual support for its national security argument.
Thursday morning, the outlets told the court that some reporters still could not enter the White House and requested an emergency hearing. Politico said a reporter’s credential had been confiscated. White House press operations director Micah Stopperich said in a court filing that staff had begun restoring the badges that morning. Kelly denied the hearing request after receiving the filing, and reporters from all three outlets regained entry around midday.
Access to specific events remained in dispute. CNN said a reporter and producer could not cover Xi’s arrival for a state dinner Thursday evening, while MS NOW said its White House reporter was also denied entry to the arrival ceremony. Other staff members from the outlets were allowed in.
The outlets argue that the ban also violated their First Amendment rights by punishing their reporting. The court has yet to decide that claim or whether the reporters’ access should remain protected beyond the temporary order.
