Media freedom fight erupts as CNN, MS NOW and Politico sue Trump administration after ban - IOL

CNN, MS NOW and Politico are taking the Trump administration to court over their exclusion from the White House.

The US news outlets – CNN, MS Now and Portico – are suing the Trump administration after they were denied access to the White House.

"This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes," the organisations said in a joint statement issued on Monday.

On Friday US President Donald Trump announced that he was banning the outlets from the presidential mansion as punishment for distributing what he calls "fake news", AFP reported.

The dispute escalated over the weekend after reporters from the three organisations were denied entry to the White House. They also had their press credentials deactivated or confiscated. CNN reporter Betsy Klein, MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner and Politico reporter Cheyenne Haslett were among those turned away, according to reports.

When announcing the ban on Friday, Trump did not identify specific reports that prompted the decision. The White House has not publicly provided further details on the restrictions.

The three organisations argue that the administration cannot simply restrict journalists’ access because it objects to their reporting. They say the ban violates protections for freedom of the press under the First Amendment.

The lawsuit is expected to seek the restoration of their White House access.

The case is expected to be heard in federal court in Washington, DC, potentially putting the administration’s restrictions on White House press access before a judge as early as this week.