Jonathan Turley is a law professor at George Washington University Law School, a columnist and a legal analyst who writes frequently on prosecutorial conduct and constitutional law.
Case
President Trump announced on September 18 that he is excluding CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over their coverage. The outlets cite constitutional protections and say their reporters were turned away September 19; Trump says they publish false stories.
Case
A federal judge disqualified Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner and a top aide from a murder-conviction appeal, declined to disqualify the District Attorney's Office, and referred all three to federal prosecutors, writing they may have violated the law. Krasner disputes the findings and plans to appeal.
Role at the time: Law professor at George Washington University Law School and Fox News contributor, on his personal X account
Statement summary
Fox News contributor and law professor Jonathan Turley wrote in an X thread, reacting to Trump's reaffirmation of his intention to exclude CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House, that he has often joined criticism of the outlets' bias but considers barring disfavored media a terrible precedent and practice. He said such a move would be an attack on long-standing free-press principles and, in a second post, that it would raise serious constitutional questions.
“barring disfavored media from the White House is a terrible precedent and practice”
The case's fixed reference point is President Trump's announcement, by Truth Social post and again in the Oval Office on September 18, 2026, that CNN, MS NOW and Politico are banned from the White House because of their coverage, that is, excluding named news organizations from White House access over what they report. Turley, reacting to Trump's reaffirmation of the announcement, writes that "barring disfavored media from the White House is a terrible precedent and practice," and in the same thread that such a move would be an assault on free-press principles and would raise serious constitutional questions, which criticizes the exclusion itself on principle and on legal grounds. The closest competing label is mixed_or_conditional, because he says he has often joined criticism of the outlets' bias and uses conditional phrasing ("would") for the announced move. That loses because the bias remark concerns coverage, which is outside the reference point, and his evaluation of the exclusion does not depend on its scope or on any unresolved condition.
Role at the time: Law professor at George Washington University Law School and legal commentator, writing on his personal site
Statement summary
Law professor Jonathan Turley wrote that Judge Diamond had reluctantly concluded Krasner and his assistant may have violated the law, summarised the findings on a pressure campaign against staff who raised concerns and on potential perjury, obstruction, false statements and conspiracy, and argued that Krasner had exhausted the patience of courts and the loyalty of his own staff. He framed the referral as the consequence of Krasner using the office to advance ideology.
“For a man who ran on the slogan "F around and find out," Larry Krasner may soon find out.”
The case's fixed reference point is whether Krasner pressured subordinate prosecutors to present a false account to a federal judge. Turley accepts the judge's account and criticises Krasner's conduct and its motive. The closest competing label is challenges_characterization, because much of the post restates the court's findings rather than arguing independently. That loses because Turley adds his own evaluation, that Krasner has exhausted judicial patience and staff loyalty and used the office ideologically, which goes beyond summarising the ruling.
Statement dates: September 17, 2026
Statement dates: September 18, 2026
Statement dates: September 18, 2026
Statement dates: September 18, 2026
