Boutrous calls the TRO ruling "a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law"
Theodore J. Boutrous Jr.Lead attorney for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, commenting on the court's ruling
After Judge Timothy Kelly granted a 14-day temporary restraining order restoring the outlets' White House access, Theodore Boutrous, the outlets' lead attorney, said the ruling vindicated freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law and thanked the court for acting quickly.
“This is a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law. We greatly appreciate the court's swift action.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should President Trump bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over their coverage?
On Friday, September 18, 2026, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that, "effective immediately, I am banning" CNN, MS NOW and Politico "from the White House as a result of their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!" About an hour later, in the Oval Office, he said no particular story prompted the decision, that he does not want the outlets "in my office," and that "somebody has a right to keep them away" if outlets write false stories. The three outlets and press-freedom groups oppose the exclusion, citing constitutional protection for the press, and the White House Correspondents' Association said it "stands in defense of our colleagues at CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO." On Saturday, September 19, MS NOW, CNN and Politico said their White House reporters were refused entry and had press passes confiscated; the White House referred questions to Trump's earlier remarks. The dispute is over whether President Trump should exclude named news organizations from White House access over what they report.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
NBC News report on U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly's September 24, 2026 order granting a 14-day TRO in Cable News Network, Inc. v. Trump, restoring CNN, MS NOW and Politico's White House access; includes reaction from the outlets' lead attorney and notes no immediate White House comment.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Judge Timothy Kelly had just issued an order granting a 14-day temporary restraining order requiring the White House to restore CNN, MS NOW and Politico's press credentials, finding the outlets likely to succeed on their due-process claim.
After the quotation
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Boutrous, representing the outlets, again condemns the underlying ban by praising a ruling that found it likely unconstitutional and lacking due process, framing the court's action as a vindication of the outlets' position against the exclusion.
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- People and groups discussed
- Donald Trump, The White House
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Cite this record
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- The Dispute Index
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- Boutrous calls the TRO ruling "a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law"
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/2256-after-judge-timothy-kelly-granted-a-14-day
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Boutrous calls the TRO ruling "a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law"". First published: 2026-09-24. Last updated: 2026-09-24. https://disputeindex.com/events/2256-after-judge-timothy-kelly-granted-a-14-day