Federal Judge Delays Ruling on Trump White House Media Ban
A Washington, D.C. judge heard arguments from three news outlets and the Justice Department over President Trump's ban of MS NOW, CNN and Politico from the White House, and has not yet issued a decision.
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., heard arguments on Wednesday regarding President Donald Trump's decision to bar three media outlets—MS NOW, CNN and Politico—from White House press briefings. The outlets contend the ban violates the First Amendment, while the Justice Department argues it is justified on national-security grounds.
Judge Timothy Kelly told counsel he would consider the submissions and aim to issue a ruling promptly. The hearing, lasting about 46 minutes, featured arguments from the outlets' lawyer, Theodore Boutrous Jr., who described the action as "clear retaliation" and "viewpoint discrimination" based on the outlets' coverage.
The Justice Department, in a filing submitted Tuesday night, maintained that the president has the legal authority to restrict access when national security is at stake, and presented letters indicating the reasons for the ban and a deadline for response.
Kelly referenced a 1977 appellate decision that requires due process before revoking a reporter’s "hard pass" to the White House, noting that the outlets were not warned prior to the ban. He indicated that the procedural requirements had not been met.
Both sides presented contrasting views of the president’s authority. The Justice Department’s Michael Velchik emphasized that White House access is a privilege, not a right, and that immediate action may be necessary for security. The outlets’ counsel countered that the First Amendment protects journalists’ ability to scrutinize government actions, including national-security matters.
The judge has not yet issued a decision and could rule at any time.