Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the White House to immediately return press passes to Politico and MS NOW, but reporters from both outlets were turned away Thursday morning. It was unclear whether the denial defied the order or reflected a system delay.
Kelly issued a temporary restraining order while a lawsuit alleging First and Fifth Amendment violations proceeds. He said the record did not support the administration’s claim that revoking the outlets’ hard passes would protect national security, or that restoring them during the case would endanger it. Kelly said the ban appeared aimed at restraining negative press.
MS NOW White House correspondent Laura Barrón-López said she used her pass to get past a barricade, but was denied entry at a press area. After she scanned the badge and entered her PIN, the machine flashed red; she said a Secret Service agent told her it was “still being disabled.” Her badge was then confiscated.
