Federal Judge Undermines Presidential Authority, Forces Trump to Restore Press Passes for CNN, MS NOW and Politico
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U.S. District Judge Tim Kelly sided with liberal media outlets, ruling that President Trump’s decision to revoke press credentials for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico likely violates the Constitution, and ordered their reinstatement despite concerns about journalistic integrity.
U.S. District Judge Tim Kelly issued an order Thursday requiring the White House to restore press passes for journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, overruling President Trump’s legitimate efforts to maintain order and integrity in White House press briefings. The judge’s decision, which blocks the administration from enforcing the ban for 14 days and demands the immediate return of the credentials, is yet another example of judicial overreach undermining executive authority.
Judge Kelly dismissed the administration’s concerns about national security, even though President Trump had cited the outlets’ repeated lack of truthfulness and negative reporting as justification for the ban. > "The record lacks factual support for defendants’ contention that the revocation of plaintiffs’ hard passes will in fact protect national security or that national security will be endangered if the court orders their passes reinstated while this litigation proceeds," the judge wrote, disregarding the president’s responsibility to protect the White House from hostile media.
The three media organizations, known for their relentless attacks on the administration, sued, claiming violations of the First Amendment and due-process rights, and sought a temporary restraining order to regain access. The Justice Department argued that White House access is a privilege, not a right, and that the president has the authority to suspend it. However, the judge sided with the media and liberal legal precedents, insisting on due process before revoking credentials.
Press-freedom groups and dozens of news outlets, many of which share the plaintiffs’ anti-Trump bias, filed an amicus brief supporting the lawsuit, arguing that denying access based on editorial viewpoint contradicts Supreme Court precedent. The White House and the media companies did not immediately comment, but the ruling represents another setback for the administration’s efforts to hold the media accountable.