Judge Timothy Kelly Blocks Trump White House Press Ban
Judge Timothy Kelly issued a preliminary injunction blocking President Donald Trump's attempt to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly blocked an attempt by President Donald Trump to ban reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. In a ruling issued Tuesday, Kelly granted a preliminary injunction that ensures these news organizations maintain access to the complex while their legal challenge proceeds.
President Trump announced the ban via social media on September 18, citing "FAKE NEWS" and a series of negative stories. The Trump administration later argued the restriction was necessary to enforce journalistic standards and protect national security. However, Judge Kelly found no evidence in the record to justify those claims, noting that the president's own comments suggested the move was intended to deter critical reporting.
Represented by attorney Theodore Boutrous, the news outlets argued the ban was unconstitutional retaliation for their coverage. Judge Kelly concluded the organizations were likely to succeed in claims that the ban violated their Fifth Amendment rights to due process and First Amendment rights to a free press.
