The AP will have limited access to the Oval Office, Air Force One after a federal judge denied a request to reinstate its press privileges.

Reuters

Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

Politics

White House can continue restricting AP’s press privileges, judge rules

4 hrs ago

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Bast Bramhall (Video Editor)

A federal judge has denied The Associated Press’s request to immediately reinstate full press access, leaving its Oval Office and Air Force One privileges limited. The AP had sued after the White House imposed restrictions over a Gulf of America language dispute.
The judge ruled in favor of the White House, but cautioned that its actions might be considered “viewpoint discrimination” and could lose in court.
Around 40 news organizations, including Fox News and Newsmax, have expressed support for the AP’s right to access, urging the White House to reverse its decision.

Full Story

The Associated Press will continue to face limited access to the Oval Office and Air Force One after a federal judge denied the AP’s request for an emergency order to reinstate its press privileges.

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The AP filed a lawsuit seeking to have its access restored after the White House restricted the organization from certain spaces. The restrictions were imposed due to the AP’s refusal to adopt the term “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico” in its reporting.

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Court sides with White House for now

In his ruling, the judge sided with the White House, stating that The Associated Press still has the ability to cover presidential events, even if not always in person. However, he issued a warning to the White House, suggesting that its actions may not withstand future legal scrutiny, calling the decision “clearly viewpoint discrimination.”

“It might be appropriate for the White House… to consider if what they’re doing is really appropriate given the case law.”

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden

Parallels to a 2019 CNN case

This case draws comparisons to a 2019 incident, in which a federal court ordered the White House to reinstate CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s press credentials after they were revoked.

The judge has called for an expedited briefing in the current case, with a hearing scheduled for March 20.

White House responds to ruling

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the ruling during an appearance on Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

“The judge’s denial of The Associated Press reinforces what I said from the podium and what Trump has been saying,” Leavitt said. “Covering the presidency in the most intimate and limited spaces in the White House, in the Oval Office, Air Force One, is a privilege, not a legal right. We want all voices to have that opportunity, which is why we’ve expanded the briefing room to invite truly independent journalists and podcasters to cover this president with honesty and accuracy.”

News organizations rally behind the AP

Last week, 40 news organizations signed a joint letter to the White House in support of The Associated Press. Even some conservative outlets, including Fox News and Newsmax, urged the White House to restore the AP’s access.

Newsmax released a statement, saying, “We can understand President Trump’s frustration because the media has often been unfair to him, but Newsmax supports the AP’s right, as a private organization, to use the language it wants to use in its reporting.”

As of this report, The Associated Press has not commented on the latest ruling.

Tags: Associated Press, CNN, Courts, Donald Trump, First Amendment, Fox News, Karoline Leavitt, Press Freedom, White House

[Karah Rucker]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO THE OVAL OFFICE AND AIR FORCE ONE –

AFTER A FEDERAL JUDGE DENIED THE AP’S REQUEST FOR AN EMERGENCY ORDER TO REINSTATE ITS PRESS ACCESS.

THE AP SUED TO HAVE ITS PRIVELEGES RESTORED –

AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE RESTRICTED THE AP FROM ENTERING CERTAIN SPACES OVER THE AP’S REFUSAL TO ADOPT THE TERM “GULF OF AMERICA” INSTEAD OF “GULF OF MEXICO.”

THE JUDGE RULED IN FAVOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE –

HIS REASONING FOR NOT REINSTATING THE AP’S FULL ACCESS –

WAS THE AP STILL HAS ACCESS TO COVER EVENTS INVOLVING THE PRESIDENT EVEN IF ITS NOT IN PERSON.

HOWEVER THE JUDGE DID WARN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT ITS ACTIONS MIGHT NOT HOLD UP IN COURT –

SAYING THE LAW MAY NOT BE ON ITS SIDE IF IT CONTINUES TO RESTRICT THE AP’S ACCESS – SAYING THE DECISION IS “CLEARLY VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION.”

THE JUDGE WROTE –

“It might be appropriate for the White House…to consider if what they’re doing is really appropriate given the case law.”

THIS CASE ECHOES A SIMILAR INCIDENT IN 2019 –

WHEN A FEDERAL COURT ORDERED THE WHITE HOUSE TO RESTORE CNN REPORTER JIM ACOSTA’S PRESS CREDENTIALS AFTER THEY WERE REVOKED BY THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE JUDGE IN THIS CASE HAS CALLED FOR AN EXPEDITED BRIEFING WITH A HEARING SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 20TH.

THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY KAROLINE LEAVITT REACTED TO THE JUDGE’S RULING ON FOX NEWS’ SEAN HANNITY PROGRAM.

“The judge’s denial of the associated press reinforces what i said from the podium and what trump has been saying. Covering the presidency in the most intimate and limited spaces in the white house, in the oval office, air force one, is a privilege, not a legal right. We want all voices to have that opportunity which is why we’ve expanded the briefing room to invite truly independent journalists and podcaster to cover this president with honesty and accuracy.”

LAST WEEK WE TOLD YOU ABOUT 40 NEWS ORGANIZATIONS SIGNING A JOINT LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN SUPPORT OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

WITH SOME CONSERVATIVE OUTLETS LIKE FOX NEWS AND NEWSMAX EVEN ASKING THE WHITE HOUSE TO RESTORE THE AP’S ACCESS.

HERE’S A STATEMENT RELEASED BY NEWS MAX.

SAYING – “We can understand President Trump’s frustration because the media has often been unfair to him, but Newsmax supports the AP’s right, as a private organization, to use the language it wants to use in its reporting.”

AS OF THIS RECORDING – THE AP HASN’T COMMENTED ON THE LATEST RULING IN ITS LAWSUIT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING OUR NEWS UPDATE.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS I’M KARAH RUCKER.

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