After the White House revoked its privileges earlier this month, a federal judge on Monday rejected the Associated Press ‘ request to partially rescind its plea on Monday to allow it to get President Donald Trump’s activities, the Oval Office, and Air Force One.
U. S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, denied the AP’s request for an evacuation order to lift the restrictions. After the news outlet objected to the president’s change of name to the” Gulf of Mexico” the Trump administration had restricted access for the AP.
McFadden scheduled a reading for March 20 to hear the AP’s demand for a initial order, allowing for further legal claims to be presented.
The judge cited a number of reasons for his choice, citing the fact that the AP was not suffering from the restrictions as a result. He noted that the news business nevertheless had access to White House share information, which contained the same information that was shared by all White House correspondents ‘ associations.
McFadden even brought up the AP’s delay in bringing its petition, suggesting that the AP’s state to urgency was undermined by waiting more than a month.
However, during the hearing, McFadden acknowledged worries about the propriety of the restrictions, at one point referring to it as “discriminatory” and “problematic”. He noted that the administration had so far allowed the White House Correspondents ‘ Association to manage press access, despite his initial reluctance regarding the technical structure of the White House press pool.
The decision is a temporary get for the Trump administration, reinforcing the government’s authority to set terms for internet access while the situation continues.
