D.D.C.Litigation
CNN, MS NOW, and Politico sue Trump in federal court over White House press access ban
CNN, MS NOW, and Politico filed a joint lawsuit against President Donald Trump and senior administration officials in Washington federal court on September 21, 2026, challenging the revocation of press credentials. The twenty-seven-page complaint alleges the administration violated the First Amendment by imposing viewpoint-discriminatory exclusions based on editorial coverage and violated Fifth Amendment due process by banning journalists without notice, hearing, or published standards.
Filing (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia) → · NPR, Bloomberg Law, Journal Record
Key points
- The complaint in D.C. federal court names President Trump, communications director Steven Cheung, Secret Service director Sean Curran, and chief of staff Susan Wiles.U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- The suit alleges First Amendment viewpoint discrimination after Trump announced an immediate ban targeting three outlets over coverage he labeled fake news.U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaNPR
- Plaintiffs assert Fifth Amendment due process claims, arguing White House credentials were cancelled without notice, an opportunity to be heard, or governing standards.U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaBloomberg Law
- Individual White House correspondents Akayla Gardner, Cheyenne Haslett, and Betsy Klein joined the news organizations as named co-plaintiffs.U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- The action seeks emergency temporary restraining relief and permanent injunctions restoring White House grounds access and press credentials.U.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaJournal Record
Sources4 articles across 4 outlets
Bloomberg Law
Journal Record
NPR
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia