WASHINGTON — Three major news organizations banned from White House grounds by President Donald Trump have requested a federal court injunction to protect their press access while their lawsuit moves forward.
Attorneys representing CNN, MS NOW, and Politico filed a late-Monday motion asking a judge to halt the administration’s restrictions until the legal challenge is settled. The petition follows a temporary restraining order granted last week by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, which reinstated the journalists’ credentials but is set to expire on October 8.
The media outlets allege that White House officials have continued to inconsistently enforce restrictions despite the court’s intervention, which includes selectively preventing CNN journalists from serving in White House press pool rotations.
“The White House’s words and actions leave little doubt that it will immediately reinstitute a complete ban of CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO if allowed the opportunity,” lawyers for CNN, MS NOW and Politico wrote in a filing late Monday.
“Because the ban is an unlawful assault on the most fundamental First Amendment freedoms and will inflict irreparable harm on Plaintiffs and the public if not restrained, this Court should preliminarily enjoin its enforcement pending the resolution of this case,” the filing said.
The escalating legal battle reflects ongoing tensions between the White House and press corps during Trump’s second term, marked by heightened sanctions on journalists and multiple First Amendment court challenges.
Following Monday’s submission, lead counsel Theodore Boutrous Jr. condemned the administration’s actions as a direct attempt to retaliate against critical coverage.
“a blatant violation of the First Amendment and due process.”
“The president and his administration have continued to make clear that this ban has only one purpose: to punish reporting he doesn’t like,” said Atty. Theodore Boutrous Jr.
“That’s retaliation and viewpoint discrimination, pure and simple,” Boutrous said. “With the district court’s temporary restraining order expiring this week, it is critical to ensure that the White House continues to be prevented from implementing this unconstitutional ban on the free press.”