Despite US judge's order, Politico, CNN and MS NOW reporters barred from White House

A federal judge ordered the White House to restore press access to CNN, Politico and MS NOW after blocking Donald Trump's ban. The ruling intensified a legal fight over due process, press freedom and the administration's response.But the ruling did not immediately translate into restored access. (File Photo: Reuters)Hours after a federal judge ordered the White House to restore their access, reporters from Politico, MS NOW and CNN were still being kept out of the presidential complex on Thursday, deepening an extraordinary clash between President Donald Trump and several major US news organisations.US District Judge Tim Kelly had issued an overnight order blocking Trump's ban on the three outlets for 14 days and directing the administration to immediately restore their press credentials. Kelly said the journalists were likely to succeed in showing that the revocation of their White House access had violated their constitutional due process rights.But the ruling did not immediately translate into restored access.Politico said one of its reporters was barred from entering the White House and had their credentials confiscated. MS NOW also said its reporter was blocked from the complex. CNN said some of its staff members were denied entry. The situation was still developing, with uncertainty over whether the denials reflected deliberate non-compliance or problems with the White House entry system. US JUDGE SAYS BAN LIKELY UNCONSTITUTIONALKelly's ruling was a major setback for the Trump administration in its latest confrontation with news organisations whose coverage the president has criticised.The judge said the record did not provide adequate support for the administration's argument that removing the journalists' hard passes was necessary for national security. He also pointed to Trump's own public explanation for the ban, which focused on what the US President described as the outlets' lack of truthfulness and negative reporting. Kelly also found that the journalists appeared to have been denied the procedural protections required before their White House access could be revoked. During Wednesday's hearing, he cited previous federal appeals court rulings that established due process protections for journalists holding White House press passes.The judge's temporary restraining order requires the administration to "immediately return, reinstate, and restore" the credentials and remains in effect for 14 days unless the court changes it.TRUMP HAD CALLED REPORTING 'FICTION AND LIES'Trump announced the ban on September 18, accusing CNN, MS NOW and Politico of producing what he called "fake news".The US President said the three outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES".The outlets responded by taking the dispute to federal court on Monday. They argued that the administration had violated their First Amendment protections for freedom of speech and the press, as well as their due process rights.The US Justice Department defended the administration's action, arguing that access to the White House is a privilege rather than an entitlement. Government lawyers also cited national security concerns and alleged failures to meet standards of professionalism and decorum.The judge, however, expressed scepticism about the national security justification. He noted that the administration's letters explaining the revocation were sent only after the credentials had already been taken away and after the lawsuit had been filed.PRESS GROUPS BACK NEWS OUTLETSThe legal fight has drawn support from a broad coalition of media organisations and press freedom groups.A coalition including the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Reuters, The Washington Post and Fox News filed a brief supporting CNN, MS NOW and Politico. The groups argued that removing journalists' access because of their perceived editorial viewpoint conflicts with established Supreme Court precedent.The White House has not immediately commented on the reporters being denied entry after Kelly's order. The Justice Department is expected to challenge the ruling.- EndsWith inputs from agencies