Reporters still barred from White House despite court ruling
Posted , updated
Despite a court ruling the day before, reporters were blocked by the secret service when trying to enter the White House grounds.
In short:
Reporters from Politico, MS Now and CNN remained barred from the White House on Thursday.
A journalist from Politico reported having their credentials confiscated when attempting to enter the building.
A day earlier, judge Tim Kelly ordered access temporarily be restored and media passes given back immediately.
Reporters from Politico, MS Now and CNN say they have been stopped from entering the White House despite a judge ordering access to be temporarily restored.
Journalists from the three outlets said they were turned away by the Secret Service when they tried to enter the White House early Thursday.
US President Donald Trump announced the ban on September 18.
Mr Trump said on social media the outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES", and Justice Department lawyers had sought to justify the ban on national security grounds at a hearing on Wednesday, local time.
All three outlets said in a Thursday court filing that President Donald Trump’s administration has not yet complied with the overnight court order to restore their access to the White House grounds.
A request was made by CNN, MS Now and Politico, asking the judge who issued the ruling to hold an emergency follow-up hearing.
Entry denied
The overnight ruling blocked the ban, which federal judge Tim Kelly described as likely unconstitutional, for 14 days.
According to Politico, a journalist representing the outlet also had their credentials confiscated.
A sign in support of news outlets is seen at the White House press room. (Reuters: Kevin Lamarque)
MS Now and CNN also confirmed reporters representing their outlet were unable to access the White House grounds on Thursday.
During the Wednesday ruling, Justice Kelly ordered the Trump administration to immediately return the outlets' press passes and blocked officials from enforcing the ban.
The judge rejected the government's assertion that the ban was motivated by national security concerns.
"The record lacks factual support for defendants' contention that the revocation of plaintiffs' hard passes will in fact protect national security or that national security will be endangered if the court orders their passes reinstated while this litigation proceeds," Justice Kelly said.
Response to ban
Following the announcement of the ban, Mr Trump said later told reporters in the Oval Office: "There is something wrong with a country that allows people to write purposely negative stories."
After the post was published on Friday afternoon, local time, staff from the outlets were still working on the White House grounds.
CNN said the ban, if it went ahead, would be an "illegal assault" on its constitutionally protected right to report without government interference. Politico, which recently expanded into Australia, said it would "vigorously defend our First Amendment rights".
A banner depicting US President Donald Trump hangs on the US Department of Labor on the day US District Judge Tim Kelly holds an afternoon hearing. (Reuters: Nathan Howard)
Bruce Brown, the president of the US Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said the ban was "flatly unconstitutional".
"The First Amendment is clear that once the White House invites in some journalists, it can't ban others because it doesn't like their reporting,"
he said.
Since assuming office, Mr Trump has forged hostile relationships with journalists and media outlets which report on his administration with criticism.
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