Washington, DC, September 21: CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO have filed a lawsuit against the Donald Trump administration challenging the White House decision to revoke press credentials and deny access to journalists from the three news organisations.
The legal action, filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, follows President Donald Trump's announcement on Friday that CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO would be barred from the White House. Trump accused the outlets of what he described as "fake news" and criticised their coverage of his administration.
In a joint statement, the three organisations said they were seeking to protect their First Amendment rights and challenge what they described as government interference in independent journalism.
"This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes," the organisations said.
They alleged that the White House revoked journalists' credentials without notice or due process because of objections to their reporting. The complaint reportedly also raises Fifth Amendment due-process claims.
The lawsuit comes after reporters from CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO were denied entry to the White House complex on Saturday, with journalists reporting that their press badges had been deactivated or confiscated.
CNN White House reporter Betsy Klein said her hard pass was rejected when she attempted to enter the complex. According to her account, a Secret Service officer told her that the credential had been deactivated and referred her to the White House Press Office for further information.
MS NOW correspondent Akayla Gardner also reported being denied entry after an officer told her that her credential had been disabled. Her photographer was similarly prevented from entering, although an MS NOW producer was able to access the complex using a functioning credential.
The White House action followed Trump's Friday announcement on Truth Social in which he said he was banning CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO from the White House, accusing the organisations of repeatedly publishing what he called "FICTION and LIES." Trump also indicated that other media organisations could face similar restrictions.
The decision quickly affected the White House press pool. CNN had been scheduled to serve as the television pool network on Monday and was expected to accompany Trump to New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly. However, the White House's Sunday evening press schedule did not identify a primary television network for Monday's pool.
The three news organisations said the revocation of their credentials threatened the principle of independent press access to the government.
"Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists' credentials because it objected to our reporting," they said. "Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism free from government interference."
The White House Correspondents' Association and other press-freedom organisations have criticised the restrictions and raised concerns about the implications for journalists covering the administration.
The lawsuit seeks judicial intervention to restore access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO while the broader constitutional dispute is considered by the court. The case is expected to bring renewed legal scrutiny to the limits of presidential authority over press access and the First Amendment protections afforded to journalists covering the White House. (ANI)
