Applaud Judge Kelly for Protecting Press Freedom

A free press is essential to a functioning democracy—and federal Judge Timothy Kelly has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a ban on journalists from CNN, MS Now, and Politico as their legal challenge moves forward.

The Trump administration revoked the news organizations' White House press credentials in September, citing their reporting as the reason for the ban. After initially restoring access through a temporary restraining order, Judge Kelly has now issued a preliminary injunction allowing the journalists to continue accessing the White House while their lawsuit proceeds.

Judge Kelly found that the news organizations were likely to succeed on their due process and First Amendment claims. He pointed to the administration's failure to provide advance notice before revoking their credentials, as well as Trump's own statements suggesting that the ban was intended to influence how the outlets covered him.

The ruling reinforces an important constitutional principle: Government officials cannot punish journalists simply because they dislike their reporting. By maintaining the journalists' access while the case continues, Judge Kelly has upheld protections against viewpoint-based restrictions and the importance of independent reporting.

Add your name to applaud Judge Kelly for blocking the White House press ban, defending the First Amendment, and standing up for freedom of the press!