The Associated Press sued three Trump administration officials Friday over access to presidential events, citing freedom of speech in asking a federal judge to stop the 10-day blocking of its journalists.
The lawsuit was filed Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
The AP says its case is about an unconstitutional effort by the White House to control speech 鈥� in this case refusing to change its style from the Gulf of Mexico to the 鈥淕ulf of America,鈥� as President Donald Trump did last month with an executive order.
鈥淭he press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government,鈥� the AP said in its lawsuit, which names White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
鈥淭his targeted attack on the AP鈥檚 editorial independence and ability to gather and report the news strikes at the very core of the First Amendment,鈥� the news agency said. 鈥淭his court should remedy it immediately.鈥�
In stopping the AP from attending press events at the White House and Mar-a-Lago, or flying on Air Force One in the agency鈥檚 customary spot, the Trump team directly cited the AP鈥檚 decision not to fully follow the president鈥檚 renaming.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it鈥檚 the Gulf of America,鈥� Trump said Tuesday.
This week, about 40 news organizations signed onto a letter organized by the White House Correspondents Association, urging the White House to reverse its policy against the AP.
David Bauder, The Associated Press
