A federal judge on Thursday temporarily ordered President Donald Trump to restore White House access for journalists from three media organizations, delivering an initial victory to the outlets in their legal challenge.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order blocking the administration’s ban and directing the White House to reinstate the reporters’ access.
The order will remain effective for 14 days as the broader legal dispute over the media restrictions continues.
Trump barred journalists from CNN, MSNow and Politico from the White House on Friday, accusing the outlets of publishing “fake news” and describing their reporting as “fiction and lies.”
CNN, MS NOW and Politico responded by filing a joint lawsuit seeking a temporary restraining order. The organizations argued that the ban violates the First Amendment, which protects freedom of the press.
Kelly signaled skepticism during the hearing about the decision to single out the journalists. He said the White House had failed to provide them with “constitutionally adequate due process” before taking away their access.
Reporters from the three outlets who arrived at the White House over the weekend found their press passes revoked and confiscated. They were consequently forced to report from the sidewalk outside the complex.
President Donald Trump imposed a Friday media ban affecting CNN, Politico and MSNow
The CNN booth at the White House sits empty after the outlet’s reporters were barred
MS Now correspondent Akayla Gardner reports outside the White House after being denied entry
Ted Boutrous, the lawyer representing the news organizations, praised the decision in comments to CNN. “This is a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law. We greatly appreciate the court’s swift action,” he said.
Justice Department attorneys defended the restrictions, arguing that coverage by the three outlets involving the Iran war and the White House ballroom project could pose a national security risk and justify the president’s action.
Justice Department lawyer Michael Velchik asked Kelly to delay restoring the reporters’ passes until after Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit on Thursday, citing national security concerns.
The White House appeared to have anticipated an unfavorable ruling. Trump said Tuesday that he would “probably” allow the outlets to return if a court ordered him to do so.
Trump also acknowledged on social media that he expected Kelly to rule in favor of the media organizations.
SEE ALSO: What Did Leanne Manas Do Recently? Scandal And Controversy – NewsFinale
“They have drawn a great Judge, for them, a man who ruled in favor of Jim Acosta, who now seems to have disappeared from the Planet,” Trump wrote, while promising to appeal the decision.
Trump appointed Kelly to the US District Court for Washington in 2017.
In his ruling, Kelly concluded that revoking the journalists’ press credentials “likely violated their constitutional due process rights.”
“The ‘general rule’ is that ‘individuals must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before the Government deprives them’ of a constitutionally protected interest,” Kelly wrote.
The judge reached a similar conclusion in 2018, when he ordered the Trump administration to restore the White House credentials of then-CNN anchor Jim Acosta.
The White House suspended Acosta’s credential after he refused to give up a microphone to a White House aide during a press conference.
CNN and other news organizations sued the White House to restore Acosta’s access to the building.
Politico White House reporter Cheyenne Haslett was also shut out after President Donald Trump revoked her credential
CNN Senior White House Reporter Betsy Klein reports from the sidewalk outside the White House
Join the discussion
How should the balance be struck between press freedom and national security at the White House?
‘It is imperative that independent journalists have access to the president and his activities and that journalists are not barred for arbitrary reasons,’ they said in a joint statement at the time.
At the time, Justice Department lawyers argued there was no general constitutional right for the press to enter the White House, leaving it up to the discretion of the White House.
The White House ultimately restored Acosta’s pass, prompting CNN to drop the lawsuit, calling it ‘no longer necessary.’
The legal battle has unfolded just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections in which Trump’s fellow Republicans are fighting to retain control of Congress. Trump’s job approval ratings are at record lows in opinion polls amid concerns over issues such as the Iran war and inflation.