A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction continuing to block the Trump administration's move to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, according to a ruling issued Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly's injunction orders the defendants to continue to preserve the status quo while the case proceeds, following a temporary restraining order the same judge issued last month.
The ruling means the three outlets will maintain access to the White House complex as their legal case to overturn the ban continues. Judge Kelly, who was appointed by President Trump, said the White House's revocation of hard passes for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico likely violated their First and Fifth Amendment rights.
The decision was carried Tuesday by ABC News, Reuters, The New York Times and CBS News, each describing the ruling as another legal setback for the administration in the press freedom dispute.
According to ABC News, the injunction continues to block the administration from barring the outlets while the case moves forward. Reuters reported that the judge "extended access to the White House for CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists, deciding that President Trump likely broke the law when he tried to ban them, in the latest ruling against him in the press freedom dispute."
The New York Times reported that the judge "again blocked President Trump's attempt to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, ensuring the outlets will have access to the complex as their legal case to overturn the ban continues."
CBS News reported that Judge Kelly "blocked President Trump's attempt to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, maintaining access to the grounds for reporters from the three news organizations indefinitely." The network also noted that the judge said the administration's action "likely violated 1st Amendment" protections.
Additional coverage described the ruling as a longer-term decision blocking the ban. One report said Judge Kelly "issued an injunction preventing CNN, Politico and MS NOW from being booted from the White House complex until the case is decided." Another report said a federal judge "extended an order blocking President Donald Trump's administration from banning journalists from CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House, according to a ruling issued on T..."
Reaction followed quickly from the outlets and their legal representation.
Ted Boutrous, an attorney for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, told CNN's Brian Stelter (@brianstelter), "We are grateful that the Court ruled in favor of our clients CNN, MS NOW and Politico and secured access to the White House for these news media organizations and their journalists. When the President issued his..."
The statement from Boutrous was posted Tuesday by Stelter, who provided the quote from the attorney representing the three news organizations.
The case centers on the administration's decision to revoke hard passes for journalists from the three outlets, which the judge said likely ran afoul of constitutional protections. The preliminary injunction issued Tuesday is not a final ruling on the merits but preserves the status quo while the legal process plays out.
The White House has not yet publicly commented on the ruling. The administration is expected to continue defending its actions in court as the case proceeds.
The dispute has drawn attention from press freedom advocates and media organizations, who have argued that barring specific outlets from covering the White House undermines the ability of the public to receive information from a variety of sources. The administration has argued that it has discretion over who receives access to the White House complex.
The legal fight is part of a broader tension between the Trump administration and major news organizations. CNN, MS NOW and Politico are among the outlets that have been critical of the administration, and the White House has pushed back against coverage it considers unfair.
Judge Kelly's ruling is the latest in a series of court decisions that have gone against the administration in this dispute. Last month, the same judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the ban, and Tuesday's injunction extends that protection while the case continues.
The judge's finding that the ban likely violated the First and Fifth Amendment rights of the journalists is a significant development. The First Amendment protects freedom of the press, while the Fifth Amendment guarantees due process. The judge's ruling suggests that the administration's action may not withstand legal scrutiny.
Next News Network could not independently verify the claims underlying the dispute or the details of the ruling.
As the case moves forward, the three outlets will retain their access to the White House, allowing their journalists to continue covering the president and his administration. The administration may appeal the injunction or continue to litigate the case in the district court.
For now, the ruling stands as a victory for the news organizations and a setback for the White House's efforts to control which outlets can cover it.
Our Take
Once again, a federal judge has stepped in to protect the corporate media from the consequences of its own conduct. CNN, MS NOW and Politico have spent years peddling narratives that serve the Democrat Party and its allies, and now they expect the courts to guarantee them a seat in the White House briefing room. The First Amendment does not give any outlet a right to a hard pass, and the Trump administration has every right to decide who gets access to the people's house. This ruling is less about press freedom and more about protecting a media cartel that has abandoned objectivity. The American people deserve a press that reports the news, not one that acts as a taxpayer-funded opposition party.
