Federal judge rules in favor of 'Associated Propaganda' in WH press room flap

U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden ruled Tuesday that The Associated Press reporters and photographers cannot be barred from press pools, including in the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other secure spaces.

In February, the AP sued three members of the Trump administration after their press access was revoked over the outlet’s refusal to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America after it was renamed. In a filing from McFadden, the judge ordered that the outlet’s “grief” against Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich will be granted.

“The Court does not order the Government to grant the AP permanent access to the Oval Office, the East Room, or any other media event,” the filing stated. “It does not bestow special treatment upon the AP. Indeed, the AP is not necessarily entitled to the ‘first in line every time’ permanent press pool access it enjoyed under the WHCA [White House Correspondents’ Association]. But it cannot be treated worse than its peer wire services either.”

“The Court merely declares that the AP’s exclusion has been contrary to the First Amendment, and it enjoins the Government from continuing down that unlawful path,” the filing said.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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