A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately restore White House press passes for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, finding the ban likely unconstitutional and blocking its enforcement for 14 days as the outlets’ lawsuit proceeds.
Judge Tim Kelly rejected the administration’s national-security justification, saying the record did not show that revoking the passes would protect national security. He also said the outlets did not appear to receive a meaningful opportunity to challenge the revocations.
The outlets sued Trump and administration officials, arguing the ban violated First Amendment protections for speech and the press, as well as due process. The Justice Department argued that White House access is a privilege and the president can suspend it; press-freedom groups and news organizations filed a brief supporting the outlets.
