A federal judge ordered US President Donald Trump on Thursday to restore White House access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, saying his ban on the three media outlets was likely unconstitutional.
In a major setback for Trump in one of his biggest battles with the media, US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued his order in a lawsuit that the news organizations filed contesting the ban that the Republican president announced on September 18.
Kelly ordered the Trump administration to immediately return the outlets’ press passes and blocked officials from enforcing the ban for 14 days. The judge rejected the government’s assertion that the ban was motivated by national security concerns.
“The record lacks factual support for defendants’ contention that the revocation of plaintiffs’ hard passes will in fact protect national security,” Kelly wrote. He added that Trump himself had stated the ban was due to “alleged lack of truthfulness and negativity” of the outlets’ reporting.
The ruling found the revocation of reporters’ press badges was done without “constitutionally adequate due process.” The judge noted the administration did not notify reporters of an opportunity to appeal until after the passes were confiscated.
Trump had said on social media that the three outlets “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES,” and Justice Department lawyers had sought to justify the ban on national security grounds.
The three outlets sued on Monday, saying the ban violated the US Constitution’s First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press, as well as their due process rights. The temporary restraining order means journalists should now be able to return to work at the White House complex.
