Trump White House accused of ‘repeatedly’ violating judge’s press access order

Lawyers for CNN, MS NOW and Politico have accused the Trump administration of “repeatedly” violating a federal court order requiring the White House to restore journalists’ press access.

The three news organisations requested an emergency hearing on Thursday after some of their journalists were turned away from the White House despite the ruling.

“This morning journalists from each of CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO attempted to enter the White House and were turned away,” the outlets’ attorneys wrote, adding that Secret Service agents confiscated some journalists’ hard passes.

The dispute follows an order from Federal Judge Timothy Kelly directing the administration to restore the outlets’ White House press badges.

Conor Fitzpatrick, chief supervising attorney for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said refusing to comply with the ruling would be “a dangerous escalation and an affront to the rule of law. Court orders are not optional.”

The emergency request comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the White House.

Major television networks that normally participate in the White House TV pool have suspended their regular coverage duties in solidarity with the affected news organisations.