CNN, MS NOW, Politico ask judge to extend block on White House ban

NEW YORK — CNN, MS NOW and Politico asked a federal judge on Sept. 28 to issue a court order preserving their White House access while they fight President Donald Trump’s move to ban them over coverage he dislikes.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly previously issued a 14-day temporary restraining order blocking the bans, finding they likely violated the news outlets’ rights to fair legal treatment. The news outlets said in their Sept. 21 lawsuit that Trump’s bans were unlawful viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees free speech and free press rights.

The Justice Department said Trump lawfully banned the outlets after determining their coverage threatened national security by revealing classified information.

Trump said in a Sept. 18 social media post that he was banning the outlets for "reporting FAKE NEWS" and that they "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES."

The president has frequently clashed with the media in his second term and personally sued outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the BBC, for defamation.

(Reporting by Jack Queen in New York; Editing by Daniel Wallis)

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/