A federal judge who ordered the Trump administration to stop blocking The Associated Press from presidential events has refused to take immediate steps to get White House officials to comply.

A federal judge who ordered the Trump administration to stop blocking The Associated Press’ from presidential events refused Friday to take immediate steps to get White House officials to comply — an incremental development in a two-month dispute between the global news agency and administration officials over access.

The case, which has significant free-speech implications under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment, centers on the government blocking AP’s access to cover events because the outlet won’t rename the Gulf of Mexico in its reports.

U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, who handed the AP a victory last week in its efforts to end the ban, said it’s too soon to say that Donald Trump is violating his order — as the AP suggests.

  • DominusOfMegadeus@sh.itjust.works
    922·
    3 days ago

    He also wasn’t swayed by the AP’s argument that it’s unconstitutional for the president to have sole discretion over who covers him at these smaller events. “We are not at the point where we can make much of a determination one way or another,” said McFadden, ruling from the bench. “I don’t intend to micromanage the White House.” McFadden said that the first few days since his order took effect gave him concerns that Trump’s team is “not proceeding in compliance here, or perhaps malicious compliance.” But the judge, appointed to the court by Trump during the president’s first term, said he has to assume that the administration is operating in good faith unless time proves otherwise.

    Uh, no you don’t, dipshit. You don’t at all. I doubt there are many laws that dictate assumptions need to be made. This isn’t corporate America, you don’t have to assume positive intent.

    • partial_accumen@lemmy.world
      42·
      3 days ago

      But the judge, appointed to the court by Trump during the president’s first term, said he has to assume that the administration is operating in good faith unless time proves otherwise.

      Mr Judge, trump is intentionally defying your judicial order. What part of that is operating in good faith? What will it take for your to see that “good faith” has long since been exhausted?

      • SeeMarkFly@lemmy.mlEnglish
        52·
        3 days ago

        What you call “good faith” and what they call “good faith” and what he calls “good faith” and what she calls “good faith” and what the judge calls “good faith” is all different kinds of faith.

    • conditional_soup@lemm.ee
      351·
      3 days ago

      It fucking kills me how judges will absolutely fuck every day people up, but then when it comes to the wealthy and well connected, it’s suddenly “oh, well, they only murdered two people, I think a fine is kind of crossing the line here, let’s be reasonable about this”.