Trump-appointed judge restores White House access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, citing due process

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, whom President Trump appointed in his first term, ordered the White House to restore press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico. According to AFP, reported by CNA, he ruled that revoking them "likely violated their constitutional due process rights." The White House barred the three outlets last week, calling their coverage "fake news" and later citing national security. Kelly wrote that he was skeptical, at least on this record, that national security was the real reason. On Thursday the reporters were turned away despite the order and asked for an emergency hearing. They were back on the White House grounds later that day. The administration has a fair point: no reporter has a constitutional right to the Oval Office, and access is a privilege. But once the government grants that privilege, it can't pull it over coverage it dislikes without notice and a chance to be heard. The same rule would protect Fox News or Newsmax from a future Democratic White House. If it's a principle, it has to apply both ways.