CNN, Politico and MS NOW sue the Trump administration

The American media outlets CNN, Politico and MS NOW filed a joint lawsuit against the administration of US President Donald Trump after their journalists were barred from the White House. The case is being heard in federal court in Washington.

The newsrooms are demanding the restoration of their correspondents' accreditations and have requested a temporary restraining order that would allow journalists to return to the White House before a final decision on the case is reached.

In the lawsuit, the companies claim that the administration's decision violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects press freedom. They also cite the Fifth Amendment, asserting that they were deprived of access without due process.

“We are launching a legal challenge to defend our First Amendment rights, and the principle that the government does not dictate who gets to report news in the United States, nor what can be reported,” the joint statement of CNN, Politico and MS NOW reads.

According to the plaintiffs, the White House revoked accreditations due to the content of their publications. The outlets claim journalists were stripped of access without prior notice or the ability to appeal the decision.

Trump announced the ban on September 18. He called CNN, Politico and MS NOW “fake news” and said he was displeased with their coverage of his administration. Responding to reporters, the president stated that the move was not tied to any single story, but to accumulated grievances over their reporting of his work.

As early as September 19, reporters from the three outlets were denied access to the White House grounds. Their regular passes were deactivated, and several journalists had their accreditation cards seized by security staff.

The plaintiffs insist that authorities cannot grant access to some media while denying it to others solely on account of their editorial stance. As legal support, they also cite previous rulings by American courts in disputes over journalist access to the White House.

The standoff has also affected the White House television pool system. CNN is one of five major broadcast networks that rotate responsibility for providing pooled video coverage of presidential events. After the ban, the other pool members refused to substitute for CNN, as a result of which Trump’s trip to the UN General Assembly may proceed without traditional pool television coverage.

The White House previously justified the restrictions by citing the president’s authority to determine the manner of media access to his residence. The legality of this stance will now be weighed by a federal court.

Based on materials from: CBS News, Los Angeles Times, Axios