The U.S. federal court has ordered the Trump administration to allow access to the White House for major news outlets, including CNN, stating that the ban is likely illegal.
On October 13, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a preliminary injunction ensuring that reporters from CNN, MSNB, and Politico can continue to access the White House until a final ruling is made in the case, according to Reuters.
Previously, Judge Kelly had issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) last month, temporarily restoring access for these outlets. The initial order was set to expire on the same day, but the court's new ruling extends access for the three news organizations until the outcome of the main lawsuit.
In his initial ruling, Kelly noted that the White House had imposed the access ban without clear justification or due process. In the latest hearing, he expressed concerns that the action could be retaliatory discrimination against critical reporting.
Kelly pointed out in his ruling that President Trump's statements suggest a strong likelihood of a causal link between the ban and the plaintiffs' First Amendment rights. He added that Trump likely prohibited access because he believes the reporting from these outlets is generally inaccurate and biased.
The Justice Department, representing the Trump administration, argued that the access ban was at least partially due to national security concerns, but the court did not accept this argument.
Kelly criticized the lack of evidence that Trump cited national security as a reason for the access ban, noting that the president had never directly mentioned national security as a justification for the decision.
He also pointed out that the government failed to provide supporting documentation for its national security claims and struggled to clarify what information was considered classified or sensitive.
However, Kelly emphasized that this ruling should not be interpreted as the government being unable to respond to illegal disclosures of classified information, while also acknowledging some agreement with Trump's concerns about the accuracy and fairness of media reporting.
This situation began on September 18 when President Trump announced the ban on White House access for CNN and other outlets, accusing them of spreading "fake news" and undermining the administration's credibility. In response, the three news organizations filed a lawsuit claiming the administration's actions violated the First Amendment, along with a motion for a temporary restraining order.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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