Reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico could not enter the White House on Thursday, hours after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore their press credentials.
US District Judge Tim Kelly issued a temporary restraining order requiring the administration to return, reinstate and restore access for journalists from the three news organizations. The order will remain in effect for 14 days while the legal challenge continues.
Despite the ruling, reporters from all three outlets said White House officials still denied them entry.
Reporters Remain Blocked After Court Ruling
Politico reported that White House officials confiscated one of its reporter’s press credentials after Kelly issued his ruling. An MS NOW reporter also said officials turned her away, while CNN reported that some of its staff members could not enter the grounds.
MS NOW White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López spoke from outside the White House complex after officials denied her access. She said it remained unclear whether the incident reflected a failure to follow the court order or a problem with the White House entry system.
CNN also reported that officials refused entry to some of its employees. The situation remained unclear as officials dealt with the court’s overnight decision.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the continued restrictions.
Judge Questions White House Ban
Judge Kelly said the journalists would likely succeed in arguing that the White House violated their constitutional due process rights when officials removed their credentials.
The judge also questioned the administration’s national security justification for the ban. According to the ruling, the available record did not provide enough support for the claim that removing the journalists’ credentials was necessary to protect national security.
Kelly noted that President Donald Trump had previously linked the decision to what he described as false or negative coverage from the three outlets.
The administration has argued that White House access represents a privilege rather than a constitutional right. The news organizations, however, argue that officials targeted them because of their reporting and violated their First Amendment rights.
News Organizations Challenge Trump’s Ban
Trump announced the ban on September 18. The three news organizations then filed a lawsuit against Trump and members of his administration.
They argued that the restrictions violated constitutional protections for freedom of speech and freedom of the press. They also challenged the removal of their credentials without what they considered adequate due process.
The legal dispute has attracted support from other media organizations and press freedom groups. A coalition of those groups and dozens of news organizations, including Reuters, filed a legal brief supporting CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
Theodore Boutrous, an attorney representing the three outlets, welcomed Kelly’s ruling. He said the decision supported their claims involving press freedom, due process and the rule of law.
For now, the court order requires the White House to restore access while the case moves forward. The continued denial of entry could lead to further proceedings as the court considers whether the administration has complied with the order.
