Trump's media bans 'deprive the public', press freedom groups argue

Six plaintiffs, including scholars, advocates and journalists, have sued the Trump administration in a New York federal court, contending that the White House's practice of shutting out selected news outlets violates the First Amendment. Represented by the Knight First Amendment Institute and Yale Law School's Media and Information Access Clinic, they want a judge to declare the bans unlawful and halt their enforcement. They say they cannot do their work without information flowing from the White House press corps, and that the policy denies the public reporting. They seek no money damages, only legal fees if they prevail, according to BBC.

The case follows a separate challenge by CNN, Politico and MSNOW, whose reporters were barred from the White House last month. A federal judge ordered credentials restored while that case proceeds, and the reporters returned. Even so, restrictions continue: CNN reporters still cannot board Air Force One, and a correspondent from The Independent was kept off President Donald Trump's Iowa trip after being scolded at a press conference. Trump has also said he is considering moving the press corps to a different location.

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