A federal judge has ruled that CNN, MS Now and Politico may continue to access the White House, stating that the Trump administration’s ban on the outlets is likely illegal.
The decision comes after a standoff in which former President Donald Trump had imposed a ban on the three media organisations, preventing them from reporting on White House events. The judge found that the ban violated the First Amendment and the established protocols for accredited journalists.
Under the ruling, the three outlets will retain their accreditation and can attend briefings, press conferences and other official events at the White House. The judge’s order also requires the administration to provide a clear, lawful basis for any future restrictions on media access.
White House access is normally granted to journalists who meet the Department of State’s accreditation criteria. The ban had been challenged by the outlets and their legal teams, who argued that the restriction was arbitrary and discriminatory.
With the judge’s ruling, the three outlets can resume reporting on the president’s activities and policy announcements, ensuring that the public continues to receive coverage from a range of national media voices.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
