AP Accuses White House of Disregarding Court Order

The Associated Press (AP) is accusing the White House of violating a court order after its journalists were once again denied access to an Oval Office event, Fox News reports.

On Monday, AP reported that a reporter and photographer were barred from a press conference featuring President Donald Trump and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele. The decision came despite a recent ruling by US District Judge Trevor N. McFadden that the White House had unconstitutionally restricted the AP’s access to press events and ordering that access be restored.

Judge McFadden’s order was scheduled to take effect on Monday, following a week-long delay granted to allow the White House to appeal. The AP also reported that Judge McFadden rejected the White House’s request for a further delay on Friday.

The White House has since filed an appeal and secured a hearing with the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Thursday to determine whether the AP’s access can remain restricted while the case is under review.

“Our journalists were blocked from the Oval Office today. We expect the White House to restore AP’s participation in the (White House press) pool as of today, as provided in the injunction order,” said AP spokeswoman Lauren Easton in a statement.

The dispute originated after the AP issued style guidance following President Trump’s reported executive order renaming the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America” on his first day in office. The White House subsequently blocked the AP from the Oval Office and Air Force One in February, citing its refusal to use the term “Gulf of America.”