President Donald Trump has allowed CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters to return to the White House after a federal judge ordered the restoration of their access, ending a six day ban imposed on the three news organisations.
The reporters were initially turned away by the Secret Service when they arrived at the White House on Thursday ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit. They were later permitted to enter around midday following the court ruling.
The development came after US District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled that the decision to revoke the organisations’ White House press credentials likely violated their constitutional due process rights.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico had sought an urgent court hearing after their reporters were still denied entry despite the judge’s ruling.
As CNN reporter Betsy Klein resumed live coverage from outside the White House, journalists from other news organisations gathered around the network’s tent on the driveway, with some filming her return. Several reporters welcomed her back as she went on air.
In his ruling, Kelly questioned the process used by the White House to remove the three organisations from its press access arrangements. He noted that people generally have a right to receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before the government takes away a constitutionally protected interest.
The three news organisations had been barred from the White House on Friday after Trump accused them of spreading what he described as “fake news,” “fiction” and “lies.”
They subsequently filed a joint lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order, arguing that the ban violated the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects freedom of the press.
Before the ruling, the Department of Justice argued that the president has authority to control reporters’ access to restricted areas of the White House, including the Oval Office. The government maintained that access to the White House is a privilege rather than a guaranteed right.
The White House Press Office had also accused CNN of publishing what it described as false information concerning national security and other matters, while making similar allegations against MS NOW and Politico.
A letter sent to CNN referred to several reports concerning the US Iran war and another story about Trump’s reported plans for a military bunker beneath a proposed East Wing ballroom. The White House claimed the report revealed sensitive construction details.
Kelly, however, expressed doubts about the national security justification presented by the administration. He said the court was not convinced, based on the evidence before it, that national security concerns were the actual reason for revoking the journalists’ hard press passes or that the decision advanced those interests.
The dispute also prompted an unusual response from five major US broadcasters. ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC announced that they would temporarily stop participating in the White House press pool, in which one broadcaster provides coverage on behalf of other television networks.
The broadcasters said the public has an important interest in receiving accurate and independent information about the government and argued that news organisations should not lose access simply because an administration disagrees with their reporting.
The return of CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters marks a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and sections of the US media over White House press access and the limits of presidential authority.
