President Donald Trump's ban on the three media companies from the White House is likely unconstitutional, federal judge Tim Kelly wrote in his ruling. It states that the media's access to the White House should be restored, Reuters reports.
The decision is temporary and valid for two weeks, during which the matter will be further reviewed.
Not legally secure?
The judge refers to the fact that the process of revoking the journalists' press cards was not carried out in a legally secure manner.
"The 'general rule' is that individuals must be notified and given an opportunity to speak before the state deprives them of something that is constitutionally protected," writes Tim Kelly according to CNN.
Citizens' right to a fair trial is addressed, among other things, in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution.
The announcement is a setback for the Trump administration, which has alleged that media giants CNN, MS NOW and Politico are primarily spreading “fake news.” Trump's Justice Department has further argued that the media's coverage of, in particular, the Iran war and the president's construction of a banquet hall in the White House could pose a threat to national security.
New TV channel
The three media giants filed a lawsuit after they were banned on Friday, claiming the ban violates the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of the press and speech.
At the beginning of the week, several American television companies announced that, in solidarity with the banned media, they would stop covering Donald Trump's appearances via the common media pool that normally follows the president's activities and press conferences.
The White House responded by launching Trump TV, a YouTube channel that will show speeches and "the best moments" with the president around the clock.
