Washington, 24 Sept. (LaPresse/AP) – Federal Judge Timothy Kelly has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s decision to ban three news organisations from the White House premises and has ruled that CNN, MS NOW and Politico must be granted access once again. This is the latest development in an increasingly heated showdown between President Donald Trump and the media whose reporting he disapproves of. Trump had announced the ban on these news organisations on 18 September, attacking what he termed ‘fake news’. More recently, the president claimed that negative coverage was dangerous for the country. The news organisations argued that they had been targeted because of the content of their reporting – in other words, on the grounds of discrimination based on their editorial stance – and described the ban as a “blatant violation” of the First Amendment. District Judge Timothy Kelly – appointed by Trump in 2017 and who, in 2018, in a similar case, had ordered that access be restored to a CNN journalist – heard the arguments on Wednesday and concluded the hearing without issuing a ruling. On Thursday, he issued a temporary restraining order which will remain in force for 14 days. Such orders are generally intended to preserve the status quo pending a more thorough examination of the case by the court.
US: Judge orders the White House to reinstate media outlets banned by Trump
Washington, 24 Sept. (LaPresse/AP) – Federal Judge Timothy Kelly has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s decision to ban three news organisations from the White House premises and has ruled that CNN, MS NOW and Politico must be granted access once again. This is the latest development in an increasingly heated showdown between President Donald Trump and the media whose reporting he disapproves of. Trump had announced the ban on these news organisations on 18 September, attacking what he termed ‘fake news’. More recently, the president claimed that negative coverage was dangerous for the country. The news organisations argued that they had been targeted because of the content of their reporting – in other words, on the grounds of discrimination based on their editorial stance – and described the ban as a “blatant violation” of the First Amendment. District Judge Timothy Kelly – appointed by Trump in 2017 and who, in 2018, in a similar case, had ordered that access be restored to a CNN journalist – heard the arguments on Wednesday and concluded the hearing without issuing a ruling. On Thursday, he issued a temporary restraining order which will remain in force for 14 days. Such orders are generally intended to preserve the status quo pending a more thorough examination of the case by the court.