CNN Attorneys Threaten Legal Action Over White House Access Denial

TL/DR –

CNN’s lawyers have written to the Trump administration, demanding that CNN’s access to the Oval Office and Air Force One be restored. Should CNN continue to be barred, the lawyers warn they will pursue legal action, arguing that the White House’s exclusion of CNN violates the Due Process Clause and the First Amendment. In response, the White House stated that no journalist has a constitutional right to access the President’s Oval Office, Air Force One, or other private facilities.

CNN Fights for Access to White House and Air Force One

CNN’s attorneys sent a letter to the Trump administration yesterday, demanding the restoration of their access to Air Force One and the Oval Office, else face potential legal action. If the White House is denying CNN access as punishment for their reportage, this goes against the First Amendment and Due Process Clause, according to the letter obtained by NBC News.

Attorney Ted Boutrous emphasized that these spaces belong to all Americans, not specific presidents or administrations. CNN and other press members stand in for the public during White House coverage. Boutrous mentioned that CNN has been blocked from fully performing its pool duties, including being denied access to Air Force One on four occasions.

Boutrous critiqued the administration for not providing written notice or explanation for preventing CNN from carrying out its television pool duties. He added that CNN had always had the same access to spaces where presidents interact with the press, just like other members of the White House Television Pool.

CNN would prefer to reach a resolution outside the judicial process, but if the access issues persist, they are willing to return to court to defend their rights. The White House stood firm on their stance, stating to NBC News that no person or journalist has a constitutional right to access the President’s Oval Office, Air Force One, or other private facilities.

Notably, CNN was scheduled to serve as White House travel pool last Friday, but it’s journalists were barred from boarding Air Force One for Trump’s trip to Georgia. Furthermore, Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House grounds last month.

This led to five major TV networks, including NBC News, declining to provide pool coverage for several days. This resulted in limited video coverage of Trump, including his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Last year, The Associated Press faced a similar issue. When they declined to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” the Trump administration barred AP print reporters from accessing Oval Office events and traveling on Air Force One. A federal judge blocked this “unlawful retaliation,” but a federal appeals court is still considering the case with a ruling yet to be issued.

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