Reporters from MS NOW, CNN and Politico were turned away at the White House Thursday despite a federal judge’s order to restore their credentials. The administration reinstated their passes after the outlets filed notice with the court, and journalists were then allowed in.
Judge Timothy Kelly did not decide the outlets’ First Amendment claim. He found they were likely to prevail on a narrower Fifth Amendment due-process argument: existing D.C. Circuit rulings require the White House to give journalists advance notice and a chance to respond before revoking credentials. Kelly said the record did not show national security motivated the revocations and noted that some reports cited by the administration were months or years old.
The ban took effect Saturday after Donald Trump announced the day before that he was barring the outlets over what he described as a pattern of dishonest reporting about him and his administration. The outlets sued, arguing they were punished for their coverage. Kelly’s temporary restraining order remains in place for 14 days as the case continues; the outlets seek longer-lasting relief, and the administration is expected to challenge the ruling.
