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Restricted press access violating First Amendment rights

February 21, 2025

3
Level

Multiple Guardrails

Founders' Principles Violated

J
Jefferson

Government actions that restrict liberty and public access to information.
A
Adams

Judicial independence and due process undermined.
M
Madison

Checks & balances bypassed. Executive action without Congressional authority.

Guardrails Violated

First Amendment

First Amendment press freedom guarantees violated.
Press Freedom

Press freedom and media access guarantees violated.
Due Process

Due process protections and procedural requirements bypassed.
Transparency

Transparency requirements and public access to information restricted.

Trigger

Associated Press filed lawsuit against White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, alleging restrictions on press access to Oval Office, Air Force One, and other official spaces violated First Amendment rights.

Action Taken

White House restricted Associated Press access to certain official spaces including Oval Office, Air Force One, and press briefings. AP alleged discriminatory treatment and violation of First Amendment press freedom. Lawsuit filed on February 21, 2025 claiming violation of constitutional rights and due process.

In His Own Words

"We reserve the right to determine press access based on coverage."

"Not all media outlets receive the same level of access."

What's Wrong

Selective restriction of press access based on coverage or outlet violates First Amendment guarantees of press freedom. Discriminatory treatment of media outlets undermines transparency and public access to information. Bypassed established press access protocols.

Impact

Constitutional: Violation of First Amendment press freedom guarantees. Institutional: Undermines transparency and public access to government information. Legal: Lawsuit filed alleging constitutional violations. Operational: Creates precedent for selective press access based on coverage.

Sources & Full Details

Primary Sources

Background

Associated Press v. Budowich lawsuit filed on February 21, 2025 alleging White House restrictions on press access violated First Amendment rights and due process. The lawsuit claims discriminatory treatment and selective access based on coverage. Press freedom advocates condemned the restrictions as unconstitutional.

Why Level 3?

Multiple guardrails bypassed: First Amendment press freedom, due process, transparency. Measurable harm to constitutional rights and press access. Sets precedent for discriminatory media treatment.