CNN, MS NOW, Politico to ask federal judge for extension to protection from White House ban

CNN, MSNBC, and Politico are set to appear in a federal court in Washington on Thursday. They are seeking an extension to their protection against a ban imposed by US President Donald Trump from the White House. This ban was instituted after Trump accused the outlets of publishing "FAKE NEWS."

President Trump's decision to revoke the outlets' access to the White House is part of a broader campaign of pressure against any media coverage he finds unfavorable. He has indicated that he may ban other outlets as well, although he is uncertain whether such actions would withstand legal scrutiny.

The matter was temporarily resolved on September 24 when US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary injunction. Kelly found it highly probable that the ban violated the outlets' Fifth Amendment right to fair treatment under the Constitution. However, he did not rule on the outlets' claim that the ban infringed upon their First Amendment free speech rights.

The outlets have requested a court order to block the ban until a final ruling. They assert that the revocation of their passes is an unlawful form of retaliation for their reporting. They also accuse the administration of fabricating meritless national security concerns to justify the ban.

The Justice Department maintains that the outlets have endangered national security by publishing classified information. They cite stories about the construction of Trump's White House ballroom and turnout at the recent Republican midterm convention.

During a September 23 hearing, Judge Kelly was skeptical of the government's arguments. He had previously blocked Trump from revoking CNN reporter Jim Acosta's White House pass in his first term, citing the decision as neither transparent nor fair.

The legal battle unfolds just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. In which Trump's fellow Republicans are endeavoring to maintain control of Congress. The election comes at a time when Trump's job approval ratings are at their lowest in his political career, according to opinion polls, due to concerns over the Iran war and inflation.