CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO on Monday sued the Trump administration after being barred from the White House, saying it violated their First Amendment rights to cover the president.

“Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials because it objected to our reporting,” the three outlets said in a joint statement.

“Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference,” the statement continued.

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The joint complaint, which was filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, said that the “Constitution does not allow a president or any other government official to deprive the press of their First Amendment rights and liberty and property interests with no notice or process based solely on his dislike of the content of their reporting.”

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The news outlets asked the court to restore their access to the White House as quickly as possible. They filed a separate motion seeking an emergency order that would remain in effect while the litigation unfolds.

“As a result of the ban, they have lost the ability to perform essential newsgathering at the seat of the executive branch, where critically important newsworthy events occur every day,” the complaint reads.

The joint complaint follows Trump announcing Friday that the three outlets were banned from the White House “as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS.”

“I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico (The recipients of an illegal and ridiculous $8 Million Dollar subscription, an All Time Record, directly from the United States Government, under Crooked Joe Biden, in order to keep them ‘alive.’ Seems like corruption to me!), from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” Trump said.

“Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow,” he added.

BREAKING: President Trump Bars CNN, MS NOW and Politico From White House

"The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America," Trump said Monday.

"It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!" he added.

"He's not banning media outlets. What he's doing is saying we're not going to give you special access to the White House if you engage in what is effectively propaganda," Vice President JD Vance said.

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NBC News shared further:

CNN was scheduled to provide pool coverage for Trump on Monday but was barred from doing so by the White House. Media outlets that are part of the pool system take turns providing the camera and crew to film the president’s events for use by journalists around the world.

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The other networks declined to step in and replace CNN’s coverage, meaning there will be no pooled TV coverage of the president’s activities.

NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN and Fox News issued a joint statement Monday morning in response to the ban, saying, “The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.”

The networks are all part of a pool system that allows outlets to share reporting and video feeds when space is limited.

The lawsuit from CNN, Politico and MS NOW argues that the president’s move violated the defendants’ due process rights and First Amendment protections for newsgathering and speech. The lawsuit also alleges that the ban violates the First Amendment because the outlets are illegally blocked from a nonpublic forum.

The 27-page filing said that Trump “was expressly clear about his viewpoint discriminatory motive” and called on a D.C. district court judge to block the ban.

 

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