CNN, MS NOW and Politico asked a federal judge late Monday to issue a preliminary injunction preserving their White House access while they challenge President Donald Trump’s bans over coverage he dislikes.
The outlets asked U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly in Washington to block the bans until a final ruling in the case. Kelly previously issued a 14-day temporary restraining order, finding the bans likely violated the outlets’ rights to fair legal treatment.
In their Sept. 21 lawsuit, the news organizations argued the bans amounted to unlawful viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment’s guarantees of free speech and a free press.
The Justice Department countered that Trump lawfully barred the outlets after determining their reporting threatened national security by revealing classified information.
Trump said in a Sept. 18 social media post that he was banning them for “reporting FAKE NEWS” and that they “shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES.”