CNN, MSNBC and Politico are suing Trump over being denied access to the White House
According to media reports, the measure was adopted without prior notice or a formal procedure and is said to be linked to the content of their articles on the Trump administration
The three news organisations, which Donald Trump has barred from the White House, CNN, MSNBC and Politico, have filed a lawsuit under the First Amendment to regain access. This is reported by CNN. The emergency motion will be considered by a federal judge at the District Court for the District of Columbia and could lead to hearings as early as this week. “This morning we informed the government that we will be filing a lawsuit to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes,” the news organisations said.
According to media reports, the measure was taken without prior notice or any formal procedure and is believed to be linked to the content of their articles on the Trump administration. The decision to bar the journalists was announced last Friday by Trump himself on the social media platform Truth. The President had accused the three news organisations of publishing “fake news”, without giving any specific reasons. The lawsuit has been filed against Trump, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung and Secret Service Director Sean Curran.
The female journalists assigned to the White House by the two cable news channels — Betsy Klein of CNN and Akayla Gardner of MS NOW — went live to report that they had been turned away and had their press passes deactivated upon their arrival at the White House for work. Shortly afterwards, Politico reported that its White House correspondent, Cheyenne Haslett, had also been denied entry and had her pass confiscated.
Barack Obama has criticised Donald Trump for banning CNN, MSNBC and Politico. “My imagination could never have conjured up some of the things that are happening now. I try to imagine what would have happened if I’d told Fox, ‘You’re out.’ It’s inconceivable,” the former president pointed out. “Just imagine if I’d tried” to block Fox News. Trump’s decision has sparked a great deal of controversy. The Democrats have accused the president of violating the First Amendment on freedom of expression.
