WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice has formally defended President Trump’s decision to ban reporters from CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House, asking a federal court to dismiss their lawsuit challenging the restriction.
In a filing submitted late Tuesday, government attorneys argued that coverage by the three outlets regarding matters such as White House ballroom construction, ammunition depletion during the Iran conflict, and the Republican midterm convention compromised national security and disseminated verifiable falsehoods. The DOJ asserted that the media organizations published sensitive or classified information, justifying the revocation of press credentials.
The legal response came hours before an emergency court session scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Washington, D.C., where the case will further examine First Amendment protections under the current administration. On Monday, the three news organizations filed suit, alleging that blocking their journalists from the White House grounds violated constitutional rights to freedom of the press.
Since September 19, when President Trump announced the ban, reporters from these outlets have been barred from entering the property. Images from the White House grounds show support signs for the AP, CNN, MS Now, and Politico, as well as empty broadcast booths where CNN correspondents typically report live.
Empty broadcast booths are a stark visual. This feels like political retribution.
I thought national security was the justification, not just disagreeing with their coverage?
Banning journalists over ‘false reporting’ is a dangerous precedent for press freedom.