Judge considers restoring journalists' access to White House after Trump's ban

A federal judge appeared inclined to order the White House to restore — at least temporarily — the press passes of journalists for CNN, Politico and MS NOW (formerly MSNBC).

On Wednesday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, who was nominated by Trump in 2017, held an emergency hearing after the news outlets filed a lawsuit seeking to undo the ban.

In his introductory remarks, Kelly said it appeared the White House had violated the news outlets' constitutional right of due process — which was set out in previous court decisions — when it abruptly blocked the access of journalists who held permanent credentials to work in the building.

Media DOJ defends White House media ban, urges court to reject lawsuit Theodore J. Boutrous, a lawyer representing the three news outlets, said the White House ban took place " without a semblance of due process."