A federal judge on Friday declined to further enforce his order requiring the White House to restore access for The Associated Press (AP), stating violations would bring “serious consequences.”
U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, said the White House’s new media policy does not appear to discriminate against the AP, despite removing a permanent wire service slot.
“I don’t intend to micromanage the White House,” McFadden said. However, he warned that continued “second class treatment” of the AP would be a “very serious problem.”
The AP sued three top officials after being barred from key spaces for refusing to use “Gulf of America” in its stylebook. The judge previously ordered reinstatement of access, but the AP claims the new policy limits its coverage. “We did not get into the pool Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday,” said AP attorney Charles Tobin. A decision on appeal remains pending.