CNN Reporter's White House Access Revoked After Trump Ban; Press Group Raises First Amendment Concerns
Washington DC [US], September 20: What began as a routine entry through the White House security checkpoint turned into a dramatic moment for CNN reporter Betsy Klein on Saturday (local time), when her press credentials failed to grant her access and a Secret Service agent told her that her badge had been deactivated. Reporter stopped at checkpoint Klein described the encounter live on CNN,…
On September 20, CNN reporter Betsy Klein faced a surprising turn of events at the White House when her press credentials failed to grant her entry. Reporting live on CNN, Klein described the incident, noting that she and other journalists from CNN, MSNBC (now MS NOW), and Politico had been barred from the White House due to President Donald Trump's announcement the previous day.
Klein explained that she had gone through the usual security checkpoint, placing her belongings through an airport-style conveyor belt and tapping her badge onto a card reader to access the premises. However, when she approached the badge reader, her credentials were rejected, and a Secret Service agent informed her that her badge had been deactivated.
Refusing to provide further details, the agent instructed Klein to consult the White House Press Office. Klein also inquired about retrieving her physical press badge, but the agent stated that he would retain it. The experience mirrored that of other journalists from the affected outlets, who encountered similar outcomes at the security gates.
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Also reported by 3 other outlets
- MS NOW, CNN and Politico Say Their Journalists Were Denied Access to White House after Trump Ban japannews.yomiuri.co.jp
- MS NOW, CNN and Politico say their journalists were denied access to White House after Trump ban mainichi.jp
- Trump returns to White House as State Department issues security alerts for Middle East thehill.com
