CNN, MS NOW and Politico have asked a federal court for an emergency hearing after their reporters were denied entry to the White House despite a judge ordering the Trump administration to restore their access.US District Judge Timothy Kelly had issued an order temporarily blocking President Donald Trump’s ban on the three outlets and directed the administration to reinstate their White House access for 14 days.Kelly said the journalists’ press credentials had been revoked without “constitutionally adequate due process”. He also questioned the administration’s national security justification for the restrictions, noting Trump’s stated reason for the ban was what he described as false or negative coverage.The three outlets filed their emergency request after reporters were again refused access on Thursday. They had sued Trump and members of his administration earlier this week, arguing that the restrictions violated their First Amendment and due process rights.The outlets’ attorney, Theodore Boutrous, welcomed Kelly’s ruling, calling it “a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law.”The legal battle has also drawn support from press freedom organisations and several news outlets, which joined a legal brief backing the three organisations.Trump announced the White House ban on September 18, accusing CNN, MS NOW and Politico of publishing what he described as “FAKE NEWS”.
