Judge blocks Trump's press ban

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, appointed by Trump, granted a preliminary injunction blocking the White House ban on CNN, MSNOW and Politico journalists from the grounds.

Judge found likely First Amendment violation

In a twenty-six page decision, Kelly found that revoking the outlets' journalists' hard passes likely violated their Fifth and First Amendment rights to due process and free press.

Trump's intent was to deter reporting

Kelly wrote that Trump's comments suggest he intended the revocation to alter their reporting on him, which would deter a reasonable reporter from publishing stories he objects to.

“It is likely that President Trump's revocation of Plaintiffs' hard passes is the sort of action that would deter a reasonable reporter or news organization from publishing stories to which he objects.”

Trump anticipated losing in court

Trump said on Truth Social last month that if Kelly ruled against him, the Justice Department would appeal the decision to a higher court.

Outlets' lawyer celebrates the ruling

Theodore Boutrous, lawyer for CNN, MSNOW and Politico, said the court was right to block the White House from enforcing Trump's ban on the three news organizations.

“When the President issued his 'ban on the free press,' he blatantly and explicitly violated due process and the First Amendment.”

Trump announced ban last month

Trump announced his decision to ban journalists from CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House grounds because of what he said was their constant fake news reporting.

Reporters turned away and credentials taken

Reporters from the three outlets who showed up at the White House the day after the ban was announced were turned away and had their press credentials taken by the U.S. Secret Service.

White House cited national security concerns

The White House argued that reporters from CNN, MSNOW and Politico violated standards of professionalism and published articles that raised national security concerns.

Judge found no national security basis

Kelly said Trump failed to put forward evidence that his decision was based on national security grounds. When Trump announced the ban on September eighteen, he did not mention national security.

Judge noted conflicting justifications

In a hearing last week, Kelly pressed a Justice Department lawyer on why the government's argument in court differed from Trump's public justification for the ban.

“seems to have said publicly and on several occasions that he was taking action because of X and Y, and now the government is coming to court saying no, it was actually Z.”

Trump has history of press restrictions

Trump stopped the Associated Press from attending certain White House events over its refusal to use the name Gulf of America.