Trump administration does not have to allow The Associated Press access yet, judge rules
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A federal judge on Monday declined to issue a temporary restraining order against the White House for denying The Associated Press full access in covering the administration, asking for a fuller briefing before making a decision.
The AP was barred indefinitely from the Oval Office and Air Force One because of its refusal to change its style on the Gulf of Mexico after President Donald Trump renamed it the “Gulf of America.” The wire service has accused Trump administration officials of violating its First Amendment protections by refusing access.
Judge Trevor McFadden told the court there were several reasons he denied the temporary restraining order. He noted there was a difference in the issues of this case and case law presented by both parties.
He also questioned the amount of irreparable harm the AP would suffer as the news outlet can get access to the same information whether or not they’re in the room where it happened, he argued.
Charles Tobin, attorney for the Associated Press, argued that there are elements to be reported that cannot be seen on a television screen and necessitate a journalist being in the room.
“We’re not arguing the president has to answer the Associated Press’ questions,” Charles Tobin said, but access “cannot be denied without due process.”
The judge said he was not inclined to “act precipitously" with regard to the executive office of the president.
The AP also waited 10 days to file their case, McFadden noted.
“I can’t say the AP has shown a likelihood of success here,” the judge said.
In a statement following the ruling, AP spokesperson Lauren Easton said the agency looks forward to its next hearing on March 20, "where we will continue to stand for the right of the press and the public to speak freely without government retaliation. This is a fundamental American freedom.”
U.S. Attorney Brian Hudak argued that the case was about whether the president could decide who has access to him. No one, he said, has "special access right."
“If tomorrow the White House decides to abolish the White House press pool, they can do that,” Hudak said. “I don’t think that offends the Constitution.”
Trump signed an executive order on the day of his inauguration renaming the body of water the "Gulf of America," but the AP said that it will refer to it "by its original name while acknowledging the new name Trump has chosen."
Trump defended the ban on AP journalists at a news conference in Florida last week, directly referring to the outlet's choice about what to call the Gulf.
"I just say we're going to keep them out until such time that they agree it's the Gulf of America," Trump said.
He also criticized the outlet's coverage of him, the election and the Republican Party. Trump said that the AP has done him and the GOP no favors, "and I guess I'm not doing them any favors."
The First Amendment says that Congress shall pass no law "abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."
The AP filed suit accusing the government of retaliating against press freedom, specifically naming White House chief of staff Susan Wiles, deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich and press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“This targeted attack on the AP’s editorial independence and ability to gather and report the news strikes at the very core of the First Amendment,” the news agency said. “This court should remedy it immediately.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Article is LOCKED by author/seeder
Who is online
37 visitors
Having access to the President is a privilege not a right.
Thumbing one's nose at him is a mistake.
Trump yet again shows he is a petty little man.
The AP remains free to attack the President to their heart's content.
They aren't attacking him, they just refuse to support his lies. That's what this boils down to. It's the same reason the right wing hates Fauci so much, he refused to support trump's lies. PERIOD.
They are free to. Get it? No one is censoring the AP.
They refused to call the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America. Reasonable since Trump can only rename it from the USA perspective. The AP's position is to use the common, established name and note that the USA calls this the Gulf of America.
Trump through a tantrum because they would not let him (gratuitously) rename the Gulf of Mexico for the planet. We have a petulant man-child occupying the presidency.
AP redefines usage for political purposes all the time. .
Trump threw a tantrum. How proud we must all be to have a buffoon gratuitously try to rename the Gulf of Mexico and then ban the AP from the White House because they will not submit to his pointless wishes.
Yes
Most Americans have more important things on their mind than to worry about it.
Then why are you bothering to comment? This seed is about Trump's pissy actions against the AP merely because of the Gulf of Mexico renaming nonsense. So it makes sense that you will see comments on this topic.
Apparently Trump thinks this is a big deal and you are here defending that.
Because I chose to. Are there certain rules about opining and commenting?
Yes, and I agreed it was a tantrum
There you go again, conflating a comment about Americans not really giving a shit about something you think they should with supporting it.
Your use of the verb 'conflating' is confused. I pointed out that Trump thinks it is a big deal so your criticism should apply to him. That is, don't you think that the PotUS has bigger issues than renaming the Gulf of Mexico and then throwing a tantrum when the AP correctly does NOT apply that name on a worldwide basis?
You certainly seem to care given your continued whining about people criticizing Trump about this. Get over it.
Again I don't believe there are that narrow rules about what can be commented on. The seed is about Trump and the AP. My comment states he had a tantrum and no one cares at this point. It seems you are trying to police a seed that is not even yours. I have to wonder why. If the author of the seed has an issue with comments I am sure he is more than capable of letting forks know
You seem to be (once again) confusing whining with pointing something out. If anyone is whining about it that would be the folks still, you know, are whining about it and can't let it go.
Once again you seem confused about who needs to get over it. I am stating the majority of Americans are over it and only a few seem to want to keep discussing it. I will continue to point out the ridiculousness of that as I see fit.
He renamed it the "GULF OF AMERICA" not Gulf of USA or United States. Did all these people forget the US and Mexico are part of AMERICA?
I do find it entertaining that the same people who are crying over the this name change were all good with changing the names of various other things.
We all know that.
It does not matter what he calls it, what matters is that he thinks he has the power (or the right even) to rename it for the planet. This is a gratuitous act by one guy who the USA stupidly elected PotUS.
I miss the Native American on Land O Lakes butter
And this is what has you so upset? Apparently you don't know that other locations like the Persian Gulf is called something else by other countries?
That's one person's opinion.
That's another entertaining thing. The people forcing DEI on everybody removed everybody of color from products. Land O Lakes Native American, Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, etc.
They do seem like a confused bunch, not quite sure what they are fighting for.
No. It is just one of many stupid acts by Trump.
So you weren't upset Democrats doing similar things. Kind of hypocritical.
First, I am not upset; one can criticize an action by a politician analytically and not emotionally.
Second, I find no reference to any other PotUS in our history who has gratuitously renamed a major body of water or land that is not owned by the USA. The Persian Gulf (your example) has been named that for over 2,500 years and is recognized as such internationally. Attempts by Arab states to rename it the Arabian Gulf have been rejected. So your example actually further supports my point.
Third, this seed is about the fallout from Trump renaming the Gulf of Mexico. This is not my major issue with Trump, it just happens to be topical for this seed. My big issue with Trump is his gratuitous, public threats of tariffs and then the execution of same.
Your comments reflect otherwise.
[deleted][✘]
[deleted][✘]
[deleted][✘]
It's sad that calling trump out for lying is seen as attacking him... WOW.
It's an interesting power play.
It's a trivial issue, to be sure, but the bigger chess game here surrounds the office of the POTUS re-exerting control over press access that many people have taken for granted and, frankly, abused.
Let's understand that if you can tell who someone voted for when they're reporting the news, they're not a journalist anymore.
The AP has been among the least egregious offenders, so picking this fight over a trivial issue like "Gulf of America" has a better chance of setting rules for future engagements in a less charged environment. So when the more serious fight comes later with CNN or MSNBC, they'll know what tools they can actually use.
Sounds to me the judge told AP to quit their crying and use their words.
Having access isn't a 1st Amendment Right. Which could be why the Judge told them to prepare a fuller brief, to explain how they THINK their 1st Amendment right was violated.
"The Trump administration announced that it would follow the Biden administration precedent of handpicking reporters/news outlets who could ask questions of the President."