Journalistic Organization Files Lawsuit Against White House Officials Over Exclusion from Briefings
The AP is taking a stand against the White House, filing a lawsuit alleging that a ban on accessing the Oval Office and Air Force One is a violation of their First Amendment rights. This ban stems from the AP's refusal to use the term "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico," as requested by the White House.
The AP, a global news outlet, was singled out for continuing to use "Gulf of Mexico," even after President Trump renamed the body of water. Trump criticized the AP for not complying, stating, "The Associated Press just refuses to go with what the law is and what has taken place, it’s called the ‘Gulf of America’ now" (Trump, press conference).
The ban, first implemented on February 11, was met with strong opposition from AP editors, who viewed it as a First Amendment violation. The AP sought to resolve the dispute privately before resorting to legal action. On Friday, the AP indicated that it was suing not just to protect its own rights but also to safeguard other news outlets from potential punishment by the Trump White House.
The lawsuit names three defendants: White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich. President Trump signaled that AP reporters and photographers would remain barred from the Oval Office and Air Force One until they use his preferred name.
The AP plays a unique role in news coverage, serving as a key part of the White House press pool that shares information with the wider press corps. The lawsuit emphasizes that denying the AP access also restricts the access of thousands of global news outlets and billions of people who rely on its reporting.
The White House argues that the AP is still credentialed to cover the White House like other news outlets. However, the AP's lawsuit differs from CNN's legal action in 2018, when the White House revoked correspondent Jim Acosta's press pass. The court quickly sided with CNN on due process grounds, leading the White House to back down from the legal fight.
The case revolves around the right to attend White House press events, such as presidential Q&As in the Oval Office. While there are no U.S. Supreme Court opinions or lower court decisions on this specific issue, a few appellate court rulings involve related circumstances.
The potential impact of this case on press freedom is significant. If the White House's actions are upheld, it could set a precedent for further government interference in journalistic activities, potentially undermining the role of a free press in holding the government accountable.
Enrichment Insights:
- The White House Correspondents Association views the ban as a violation of the First Amendment and President Trump's own executive order on freedom of speech and ending federal censorship (Source: [2]).
- An AP employee anonymously noted that the ban is a clear case of viewpoint discrimination, where the government is penalizing the AP for its reporting choices (Source: [2]).
- The ban interferes with the AP's ability to perform its job, as the press pool travels with the President and shares information with the press corps (Source: [2]).
Sources:[1] Associated Press. (2023, March 10). The Associated Press Suing White House Over Ban on Oval Office and Air Force One Access. The Associated Press.[2] CNN. (2023, March 11). Associated Press sues White House over ban on its photographers and reporters. CNN.
The AP's lawsuit against the White House includes three defendants: Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich. The ban on AP reporters and photographers, due to their use of "Gulf of Mexico" instead of "Gulf of America," was deemed unconstitutional by the AP, as it violates their First Amendment rights. The AP republishes summarized content from various sources, and this ban could restrict the information-sharing process among global news outlets and their billions of viewers.
