CNN, Politico and MS NOW Sue White House Over Ban
CNN, Politico and MS NOW file a lawsuit against the Trump administration after being barred from the White House, while major networks suspend pool coverage.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- CNN, Politico and MS NOW filed a joint lawsuit in the US District Court in Washington.
- President Donald Trump banned the outlets, accusing them of reporting fiction and lies.
- Five major US TV networks suspended their White House pooled news coverage in response.
- The ban faces scrutiny under the First Amendment protecting freedom of the press.
Major US media organisations CNN, Politico and MS NOW have initiated legal action against the administration of President Donald Trump after being barred from entering the White House. The ban was publicly announced by the US leader on Friday, who accused the three news outlets of publishing fictitious stories and falsehoods regarding his administration, leading to reporters being denied access to the building the following day.
In a joint statement released on Monday, the media companies declared they were pursuing legal action to uphold the foundational principle that the government does not possess the authority to dictate what journalists report. They formally filed the lawsuit on Monday morning in the US District Court in Washington, urging a judge to swiftly rule the ban unconstitutional and block presidential aides from enforcing it.
The restriction prompted major US television networks to pull out of White House pool duties, a collaborative system where media outlets share resources and broadcasting material to cover presidential events efficiently. Bryan Boughton, Fox News Washington bureau chief, confirmed in an email that the television pool would cease covering designated events involving President Trump.
The collective withdrawal by major networks from White House pool responsibilities represents a significant professional and political pushback against executive media restrictions. Operating pool coverage is vital for broadcasting presidential movements, and withholding these feeds disrupts standard media access. This escalation underscores the growing friction between the White House and mainstream media outlets, which rely on First Amendment protections against content-based discrimination.
CNN's permanent five-seat booth located in the basement of the White House press area, which was scheduled to cover President Trump's trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, remained entirely empty with its monitors turned off on Monday morning. Instead, the CNN reporting crew operated from a public pavement located outside the secured perimeter of the White House grounds.
"The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting."
Joint statement issued by ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC
When questioned about potential future actions, President Trump suggested that other outlets might face similar measures, specifically naming publications like the New York Times and the Washington Post as purveyors of fake news. This follows an earlier move in February when the White House assumed control of the press pool, stripping the White House Correspondents' Association of a management role it held for over a century.
Source: BBC World
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