CNN, MS NOW And Politico Say White House Continues To Deny Access To Some Staffers Even After Judge’s Order; Outlets Seek New Hearing

The White House has continued to deny access to reporters for CNN, Politico and MS NOW, even after a judge ruled against Donald Trump‘s ban and that credentials must be restored.

CNN’s Betsy Klein reported that she was still not being allowed access to the grounds, and did a standup from outside the White House gates. Politico reported that one of its correspondents was turned away and his press credentials were confiscated. MS NOW reporter Laura Barrón-López and a producer were denied access and had their passes confiscated, the network reported.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, in a ruling issued overnight, issued a temporary restraining order that requires that access be restored. He concluded that the outlets were denied due process, but also indicated that the media plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their Fifth Amendment claims. The order lasts for 14 days as he considers further legal arguments.

As of Thursday morning, there was still no TV pool to cover the president and first lady’s ceremony to greet Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan. After CNN was removed from its pool assignment on Monday, the other four networks in the TV pool announced that they would not participate in the rotation.

Theodore Boutrous Jr., the lead attorney representing the networks, noted that continued denial of credentials in a filing to the judge on Thursday. He wrote that “time is of the essence —CNN is scheduled to be the television pool this evening for President Xi Jinping’s visit to the White House.”

“Defendants have already repeatedly violated the court’s order,” Boutrous wrote. He called for a video or teleconference on Thursday morning.