Five TV Networks Suspend White House Coverage After Three Outlets Banned
Mainstream media outlets CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, Sept. 21, after reporters from the three outlets were denied White House access over the weekend, according to a joint statement and the 27-page filing [1].
The five major TV networks – CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox News – suspended distribution of presidential pool footage until further notice, according to an email from Fox News Washington bureau senior vice president Bryan Boughton [2]. The complaint names President Donald Trump, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, Secret Service Director Sean Curran and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles as defendants, according to court documents [1].
Lawsuit Alleges First Amendment Violation
The outlets said in a joint statement that they notified the government they were filing suit to protect First Amendment rights and defend the principle that government does not decide what the press reports or publishes [1]. The statement said the White House revoked journalist credentials without notice or process because it objected to their reporting, adding that the action threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism [3].
