US federal judge allows news organisations access to White House, blocks Trump's ruling in another setback

US federal judge Timothy Kelly on Tuesday granted relief to three news organisations, extending their access to the White House. Judge Kelly ruled that President Donald Trump may have violated the law when he attempted to bar journalists from CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the premises. The judge's 24 September emergency order restored the journalists' access to the White House.

The news outlets and press freedom organisations contend that Trump's actions constitute a retaliatory response to reporting they deem displeasing, potentially impinging on the First Amendment. The judge acknowledged that Trump's ban affected 78 reporters across the three news organisations. Kelly ordered the White House to restore the reporters' "hard passes," which grant access to the White House grounds.

The judge found that the administration raised national security concerns after taking action but failed to substantiate them. Without a preliminary injunction, the outlets "are likely to suffer irreparable harm," the judge wrote. Kelly also noted that the White House did not warn the plaintiffs of their impending loss of hard passes before Trump announced the decision on social media.

The judge stated that the revocation of hard passes significantly impacts reporters' ability to perform their jobs and cited Trump's comments that his actions were intended to alter reporting on him. The judge emphasized that Trump's own actions suggest an intent to deter reporters from covering him in the same manner they had previously.

The ruling comes weeks before the US midterm elections, which present a challenge for Republicans seeking to retain control of Congress.