Federal Judge Rules on Trump Administration Lawsuit by News Agencies

A federal judge has issued a ruling that favors the news organizations that the Trump administration had barred from accessing the White House.

Judge Timothy J. Kelly supported CNN, MS NOW, and Politico in their legal challenge against the executive branch. In a ruling issued early Thursday morning, Judge Kelly stated that the reporters’ press credentials were revoked without offering “constitutionally adequate due process.”

In his ruling, Kelly emphasized that … “The ‘general rule’ is that ‘individuals must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before the Government deprives them’ of a constitutionally protected interest.”

Judge Kelly had previously pointed out that the White House failed to provide due process to the reporters before terminating their access to the premises, which he noted contradicts established legal precedent.

The ruling mandates that the “hard pass” press credentials previously held by employees of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico must be “immediately” reinstated and restored until further orders from the Court or until the Temporary Restraining Order expires, which is set to last for 14 days.

As reported, the three news organizations had their reporters removed from the White House, with indications that Natalie Harp, a close aide to the president, played a significant role in their expulsion.

President Donald Trump labeled these outlets as “fake news,” a phrase he frequently uses, after stripping their credentials and expelling them from the White House. He argued that these organizations should not be permitted to publish “LIES” and “FICTION” from the briefing room.