CNN, Politico and MS NOW challenge White House ban in court
CNN, Politico and MS NOW will appear in court Wednesday to challenge the Trump administration's ban on their White House access, arguing the expulsion violates the First Amendment and should be lifted immediately. The outlets' lawyers filed Monday seeking an immediate restraining order, citing legal precedent. The Justice Department defended the ban Tuesday, calling White House access a "privilege—not a right" and citing alleged "verifiable falsehoods" and publication of sensitive information. More than four dozen media groups filed a brief supporting the outlets. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who ruled against Trump in a similar 2018 case involving CNN's Jim Acosta, will hear arguments at 3:30 p.m. ET. The administration gave outlets until Friday to contest the ban, which Trump announced Friday, calling their reporting "FAKE NEWS."