US Judge Orders White House to Give CNN, MS NOW and Politico Access

By Brian Angwenyi, Oyominto TV

Donald Trump’s photo |Donald Trump facebook|

In Washington- A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately restore White House access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, temporarily blocking the ban imposed on the three news organisations by President Donald Trump.

US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued the order early Thursday after the three outlets challenged the administration’s decision to revoke their White House press credentials. The judge found that the journalists were likely denied constitutionally required due process before their access was withdrawn.

The ruling requires the administration to return the journalists’ hard-pass credentials and prevents officials from enforcing the ban for 14 days while the legal dispute continues.

The dispute began on September 18, when Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would no longer be allowed to access the White House. Trump accused the outlets of repeatedly publishing what he described as “fake news” and criticised their coverage of his administration.

The organisations subsequently filed a joint lawsuit, arguing that the administration’s action violated their constitutional rights, including protections under the First Amendment and the right to due process.

During Wednesday’s court hearing, Judge Kelly questioned whether the administration had followed the required legal process before revoking the journalists’ credentials. Previous court decisions have established that journalists should receive notice and an opportunity to respond before their White House access is withdrawn.

In his ruling, Kelly said the government had not provided adequate evidence to support its claim that national security concerns justified the ban. He also found that the journalists had not been given a proper opportunity to challenge the decision before their credentials were revoked.

The case adds to a long-running dispute between Trump and several major US news organisations over media coverage of his administration. The president has frequently criticised outlets whose reporting he considers unfair or inaccurate.

The latest court decision comes as Trump faces other political challenges. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in September found his approval rating at 32%, the lowest of his political career, with concerns over the cost of living and the ongoing conflict with Iran contributing to dissatisfaction. The United States is also approaching the November 3 midterm elections, in which Republicans are defending narrow congressional majorities.

The temporary court order does not settle the wider constitutional dispute. The lawsuit will continue as the court considers the arguments from the media organisations and the Trump administration.