CNN, MS NOW and Politico keep White House access for now

CNN, MS NOW and Politico will keep temporary White House access until Tuesday after US District Judge Timothy Kelly extended an order while considering whether to block President Donald Trump’s ban during their lawsuit.

The three media outlets asked Kelly on Thursday to turn his temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction that would prevent Trump from barring them from the White House while the case proceeds.

Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House on September 18 for distributing what he called “fake news” and “fiction and lies”. The outlets filed a joint lawsuit arguing that the ban violates the First Amendment, which protects press freedom.

Theodore Boutrous, a lawyer for the media outlets, said Trump issued the ban “because of what he perceives as negative, false, bad, not positive enough reporting”. He said it would be a “dangerous, chilling doctrine” if a press pass were at risk because Trump decided something was false.

Justice Department attorney Michael Velchik urged Kelly to uphold the ban, accusing CNN, MS NOW and Politico of violating “journalistic standards” and endangering national security by revealing classified information.

Kelly, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, said in last month’s order temporarily restoring the outlets’ White House credentials that the ban “likely violated their constitutional due process rights”.

After that order, CNN, MS NOW and Politico were granted access to the White House grounds and briefing room but remained barred from the Oval Office and Air Force One. ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC halted White House pool coverage in solidarity with CNN.