Judge Questions Trump's Press Ban: Due Process Concerns for CNN, MS NOW
Judge Questions Trump's Press Ban: Due Process Concerns for CNN, MS NOW
A federal judge suggests the Trump White House ignored due process when revoking press passes for major news outlets. Is press freedom at risk? Get the details on this developing story!
A federal judge is casting doubt on the Trump administration's methods for revoking press passes from major news organizations, including CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a presidential appointee, indicated that the White House appears to have disregarded long-standing legal procedures requiring due process before stripping journalists of their credentials.
The controversy arose after President Trump announced he was "banning" the publications "effective immediately" due to what he labeled "FAKE" reporting. Letters detailing how the outlets could regain their passes were only sent out much later.
This move prompted a federal lawsuit from the affected organizations, accusing the administration of "brazenly" violating their First Amendment rights and due process requirements under the Fifth Amendment, arguing that the actions discriminate based on editorial viewpoint.
During a recent court hearing in Washington, D.C., Judge Kelly referred to previous rulings, including his own in 2018, which restored then-CNN reporter Jim Acosta's press pass. Those decisions emphasized that journalists are entitled to a "pre-deprivation notice and opportunity to be heard" before their passes are revoked.
I think it is fair to say that the process the court laid out [in those cases] wasn't followed here,
Kelly stated, though he concluded the 45-minute hearing without an immediate decision, promising a ruling "as soon as I can."
The Trump administration and the Department of Justice have defended the revocations by accusing the outlets of endangering national security through reporting deemed "negative, wrong and, in many cases, DANGEROUS for our Country." President Trump has also taken to social media, asserting that "Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES" and hinting that "Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow."
In a show of solidarity, other news organizations agreed to an effective blackout of pool coverage. Major networks like ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News, which typically share broadcast pool feeds, suspended their coverage.
Additionally, other outlets announced they were temporarily withholding the publication of pool photographs.
This unified response highlights the gravity of the situation and the perceived threat to press access and freedom.
Theodore Boutrous Jr., a lawyer representing the news outlets, argued before Judge Kelly that there hasn’t been even "a semblance of due process here." He cautioned that if the court merely compels the administration to offer some minimal recourse, "the shenanigans will continue," suggesting a pattern of "faux due process efforts" that would still undermine First Amendment rights. The ongoing legal battle underscores significant concerns about the future of press access to the White House and the administration's respect for established legal precedents.
