President Donald Trump's ban on White House reporters could face another legal battle after CNN threatens to drag the case back into court over exclusions from Air Force One coverage.
According to The Washington Sun, CNN attorney Theodore Boutrous sent a letter to the White House and the Justice Department, demanding that they stop blocking the network's access to the presidential aircraft and Oval Office.
He wants assurances by Thursday and warned that CNN “will be forced to pursue additional judicial relief” if the restrictions continue.
The warning comes after U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, earlier this month issued a preliminary injunction protecting White House access for CNN, Politico and MS NOW while their lawsuit continues.
Kelly found the networks likely to win on their First Amendment and due process claims after the White House revoked their press passes in September. However, despite the injunction, the White House bypassed it by imposing more restrictions on access to Air Force One or other press events.
CNN says it has been denied a scheduled seat aboard the aircraft at least four times since September 18, including Trump’s mid-October trips to Georgia and Florida.
The restrictions also affect other broadcasters because CNN participates in a rotating television pool and other networks have refused to take its place.
Trump’s war with the press has continued, with White House counsel Will Scharf demanding that Politico retract three reports about chief of staff Susie Wiles and threatening to review the outlet's access.
Politico corrected Wiles’ reporting in one article after publication but rejected accusations concerning the others. CNN’s lawyer, who also represents Politico, argued that the retraction demand further supported claims that the administration retaliated for its earlier press ban.
Meanwhile, The Independent's White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg was removed from a travel pool assignment after questioning Vice President JD Vance about an “insult” during an Oval Office event. Trump subsequently told Feinberg, “I don’t know who the hell you are, but you better be careful.”
White House Correspondents' Association President Jacqui Heinrich condemned the removal and said it amounted to retaliation for a line of questioning he didn’t like.
A White House official hit back, telling The Washington Sun that: “No person and no journalist has a constitutional right to access the President’s Oval Office, Air Force One, or other sensitive and private facilities.”
The White House has also declined to rule out moving reporters from the press briefing room, which could turn into another contentious battle over media access.
