CNN, Politico, and MS NOW simultaneously excluded from press pool
AMENDMENTS CITED
2
First and Fifth Amendments invoked in the lawsuit
PRECEDENT AGE
1977
Sherrill v. Knight established due-process right for press credentials
PRIOR CASE
2018
Jim Acosta/CNN ruling: access cannot be arbitrarily revoked without notice and hearing
Browse the Record
Event Log
2026-09-21 — legal
Lawsuit Filed
CNN, Politico, and MS NOW file an emergency First Amendment and Fifth Amendment lawsuit against the Trump administration in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging their simultaneous exclusion from White House press pool access.
2026-09-24 — ruling
TRO Issued
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly — a Trump appointee — issues an emergency temporary restraining order, finding plaintiffs showed sufficient likelihood of success on the merits. Press credentials are restored pending further proceedings.
Context
Judge Timothy Kelly — appointed by President Trump in 2017 — presided over both the 2018 Acosta credential dispute and the 2026 lawsuit. In both cases he found sufficient constitutional grounds to restore access. The administration resolved the Acosta matter before a full hearing; the outcome of these proceedings remains pending.
A temporary restraining order restores access pending further proceedings. It does not constitute a final ruling on the merits. Case status reflects reporting as of the data file date.