From Newsgroup: alt.politics.media
CNN, MS NOW and Politico can be shut out from areas of the White House
at President Donald Trump's request, the Department of Justice said on
Tuesday, a day ahead of a court hearing.
The three leading outlets went to court after Trump ordered on Friday
that they be barred from the presidential mansion as punishment for distributing what he calls "fake news."
A US district judge set a hearing on the complaint for Wednesday.
The Department of Justice said in a court filing that Trump can "control reporters' access to restricted presidential areas, such as the Oval
Office."
"Access to the White House is a privilege -- not a right," it added.
The court filing said that letters explaining the president's reasons
for the ban had been sent to the outlets on Tuesday. They have until
Friday to object.
The letters cite numerous "reporting incidents" by the outlets that
"threatened national security and spread falsehoods," according to the
filing.
The letter to CNN cited a story on Trump's plans to build a bunker below
the East Wing ballroom he is constructing, which "disclosed 'top-secret' construction details," and several stories about the Iran war, the
network said.
Journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied any access to the
White House grounds on Saturday and had their passes confiscated.
In their lawsuit, the three outlets asked for a temporary restraining
order against the ban on the grounds that it violates the First
Amendment of the US Constitution, which upholds the right to a free
press.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/us-justice-dept-says-trump- 074536366.html
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