CNN reported on Monday that it intends, alongside MS NOW and Politico, to file a lawsuit challenging U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to bar journalists from the three media organizations from entering the White House and to seek urgent judicial intervention to restore their press credentials.
In a joint statement, the organizations said they had informed the government of their intention to file the lawsuit to protect their rights under the First Amendment to the Constitution and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes.
They added that the White House had revoked their journalists’ credentials without prior notice or procedures because of its objections to their media coverage. They considered that leaving the decision unchallenged threatens press freedom and the public’s right to obtain independent information free from government interference.
According to CNN, a request for a temporary restraining order is scheduled to be filed before the federal district court in Washington to restore the three organizations’ journalists’ access to the White House. Hearings may be held during the current week to present the arguments of both sides.
The anticipated lawsuit is based on the claim that the ban violates the First Amendment to the Constitution and guarantees of due process.
The draft filing states that the decision harms all media organizations, as it exposes them to similar measures if they provide independent coverage based on facts but that does not satisfy the president.
The organizations also considered that the public is harmed by the continuation of the ban because it restricts access to timely and comprehensive information about the government.
Trump announced on Friday that the three organizations would be barred from entering the White House, accusing them of publishing “fake news” and suggesting that the ban could be expanded to include other media outlets.
CNN said the decision had prevented correspondents from the three organizations from accessing their workplaces inside the White House. It also prevented CNN and MS NOW, formerly known as MSNBC, from using their television equipment and designated filming locations.
The network added that it was excluded on Monday from a joint television coverage assignment that it had been scheduled to undertake during the president’s trip to New York.
According to the report, MS NOW correspondent Akiyla Gardner, CNN correspondent Betsy Klein, and Politico correspondent Cheyenne Haslett attempted to enter the White House on Saturday, but the Secret Service prevented them from doing so and confiscated their press credentials.
CNN said it had contacted the White House for comment regarding the anticipated lawsuit.
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