A federal judge ruled on Thursday that President Donald Trump must temporarily restore access to the White House for journalists from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico, saying that the ban on the three outlets is unconstitutional.
Federal District Court Judge Tim Kelly issued the corresponding order as part of a lawsuit filed by news organizations over the ban imposed by Trump on September 18.
Kelly ordered the Trump administration to immediately return press passes to the outlets and prohibited officials from applying the restrictions for 14 days. The judge rejected the government’s argument that the ban was dictated by national security considerations.
Trump accused three outlets of systematically spreading «FABRICATIONS AND LIES,» while Justice Department lawyers tried to justify the ban on national security grounds.
In response, three outlets filed a lawsuit against Trump and his administration in a federal court in Washington on Monday. A number of other media organizations, including Fox News, also announced a boycott of the White House in protest against the ban imposed by Trump.