CNN, Politico and MS NOW Sue Trump

Politico, CNN and MS NOW filed a federal lawsuit on Monday against President Donald Trump and three senior administration officials after their journalists were stripped of their press credentials and barred from the White House.

The outlets argue that the move violates the First Amendment’s protections for press freedom and the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of due process. They are asking a federal court in Washington to declare the ban unconstitutional and immediately restore their journalists’ access.

The legal action followed Trump’s announcement on Friday that he was barring journalists from the three news organizations from the White House. Trump accused them of publishing “fake news” and criticized the negative coverage of his administration.

The lawsuit argues that the White House’s actions have a chilling effect on journalism and that the government cannot determine what the press reports or publishes.

Courts have previously recognized the White House’s authority to control access to certain areas but have also imposed constitutional limits on excluding journalists based on their reporting or viewpoints.

(max)