Trump administration accuses banned media outlets of 'falsehoods' ahead of court hearing
The US Justice Department has accused CNN, Politico, and MS NOW of "trafficking in verifiable falsehoods" and reporting that "threatened national security" in its defense of banning the media outlets from the White House. The ban, which followed President Trump's accusations of "fake news," led the three organizations to file a joint lawsuit, arguing the move is unconstitutional. A judge is scheduled to decide on Wednesday whether to temporarily lift the ban pending a full hearing. The Justice Department's court filing cites specific reporting incidents, including stories about White House construction and an internal leak investigation, and asserts that White House access is a privilege. The media outlets contend the ban violates their First Amendment rights to freedom of the press.