Trump handed ‘stinging defeat’ against his media ban — but legal battle for White House access is far from over

A federal judge has ruled that President Donald Trump likely broke the law when his administration pulled White House press credentials from journalists at CNN, MSNOW and Politico, and the administration filed an appeal in less than a day. The dispute is expected to occupy the courts for months while reporters contest their access to the president, according to The Independent.

Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, issued a preliminary injunction finding that Trump's own public remarks showed the outlets were targeted over their coverage, which he called viewpoint discrimination. Kelly also found that the passes were removed without any opportunity to challenge the decision, and that the move likely amounted to retaliation against protected reporting. The Justice Department points to national security, though The Independent reports that the White House raised that rationale only after the outlets sued.

The fight has shifted to the traveling press pool. CNN and Politico have been kept off Air Force One, and communications director Steven Cheung maintains that credentials and pool seats are separate matters. A White House spokesperson said the outlets can report from outside. Attorney Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →