WaPo (“Judge orders White House to restore access to CNN, Politico, MS NOW after Trump ban“):
A federal judge has ordered that access to the White House be temporarily restored for reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico after they were banned by President Donald Trump.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly on Thursday issued a 14-day restraining order while the outlets’ legal challenge of the ban proceeds, ordering the White House to “return, reinstate, and restore” the journalists’ credentials.
Reporters from the three outlets were blocked from entering White House grounds on Saturday following Trump’s announcement Friday that he would ban them, saying he disliked how they covered him. “They’re fake news,” he said. The three news organizations fought the ban in court, leading to an expedited hearing on Wednesday.
The media outlets argue that their ban from the White House grounds violates the First Amendment and their Fifth Amendment due process rights. In a statement Thursday, Theodore Boutrous Jr., the lead attorney for the outlets, welcomed Kelly’s order. “This is a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law,” Boutrous said. “We greatly appreciate the court’s swift action.”
The White House and Justice Department did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Kelly, a Trump appointee, wrote in his ruling that the media outlets have shown a “high likelihood of success” in their Fifth Amendment claim that their passes were revoked without due process. Other factors, including the public interest in a free press, also tipped the balance in their favor, he said.
“This is a high bar, but Plaintiffs have met it,” Kelly wrote.
Doesn’t Kelly understand that Trump put him on the bench to rule in Trump’s favor? Ungrateful bastard.
