The outlets argue the ban was retaliation for critical coverage and say the White House offered no new evidence that their reporting endangered national security. The Justice Department has asked Kelly to allow the ban to resume. Attorney General Todd Blanche has defended the restriction, saying “the complete misinformation and the inaccuracy and the one-sided news out of certain organizations does become a national security issue.”
Kelly initially ordered the outlets’ credentials restored for 14 days on Sept. 24, finding they were likely to succeed on claims that the passes were revoked without “constitutionally adequate due process.” Access disputes have continued since that order, with the White House excluding CNN and Politico from assigned duties covering presidential trips on behalf of the wider press corps.