Defending Trump media ban, DOJ cites national security and says White House access is a ‘privilege’

The Department of Justice said in a court filing late Tuesday that President Donald Trump has the right to ban media outlets CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House, calling their access a “privilege” and citing national security concerns. The filing urges a federal judge not to block the ban, ahead of a hearing Wednesday on the news organizations’ request for a temporary order restoring their access. The Trump administration argues that the ban does not violate First Amendment protections on press freedom. “Access to the White House is a privilege—not a right,” the DOJ says in the filing. It contends that the three news outlets had “failed to maintain basic minimum ‘standards of professionalism and decorum expected of those given access to the White House Complex,’ including, “publishing sensitive or classified information,” wrote DOJ Attorney Michael Velchik.

The DOJ said the three news organizations were sent individual letters from the White House Press Office earlier Tuesday laying out the reasoning for the revocation of their passes, and citing a “non-exhaustive list of reporting incidents” the White House said it had found “threatened national security and spread falsehoods.” The letters cite stories on construction details related to the East Wing bunker, funding for the White House ballroom, munitions stockpiles impacted by the Iran war and sanctions against Russia. The