Latest news with #AntitrustLaw
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge Declines AP Challenge To New White House Press Pool Policy, But Says Time Will Tell Whether Wire Service Still Gets 'Second Class Treatment'
A federal judge who ruled that the Trump White House's ban on the Associated Press was a violation of the First Amendment nevertheless declined to challenge the administration's response: A new policy that limits the wire service's access but doesn't restrict it altogether. After a hearing in U.S. District Court in Washington, Judge Trevor McFadden said that he was 'inclined to agree with the government' that the new policy was 'facially neutral.' More from Deadline "Choose Your Words Wisely": Adviser To Trump's U.S. Attorney Nominee Ed Martin Warns Democratic Strategist Over MSNBC Appearance Associated Press Is Expected To Receive A Spot In Print Pool By Sunday, White House Official Says In Court Filing Google Violated Antitrust Law By Maintaining Digital Ad Technology Monopoly, Judge Rules McFadden turned down the AP's request to issue a new order to enforce his previously ruling, that the White House must end its ban on the wire service on the basis of its content. Trump and his team had restricted the AP from the Oval Office and other events because it declined to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in its style guidance. The judge's order went into effect on Monday. It was not until Thursday, though, that an AP photographer was allowed back into the press pool. An AP print reporter will be allowed in to pool on Saturday, when the president is expected to be golfing. In light of the judge's order, the White House announced a new policy eliminated designated pool slots for wire service reporters. The AP's print reporter, who previously had a regular spot in the pool, now would be put into a regular rotation of not just wire services but other members of the press corps. The AP's attorney, Charles Tobin, argued that the new policy still punished the news organization. 'We believe they did this punitively to dilute the AP' in its access, Tobin said. He cited a provision in the new policy that stated that the president 'retains absolute discretion over access to the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other comparably sensitive spaces.'' Although McFadden turned down the AP's motion, he left open the possibility of a further challenge from the news organization, warning that any non-compliance with his order would be 'very problematic' and there could be 'serious consequences.' He said that it will be 'pretty telling' over time just how many times that the AP is selected in the pool compared to its wire service competitors. He denied the AP's motion without prejudice, meaning that they could seek a new challenge. 'The proof is in the pudding,' the judge said, adding that time will tell whether the AP was repeatedly receiving 'second class treatment' compared to its wire service rivals. More to come. Best of Deadline 'Ransom Canyon' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The New Netflix Western Romance Series Everything We Know About 'Emily In Paris' Season 5 So Far Everything We Know About Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners': From The Themes To How It Was Shot
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Choose Your Words Wisely': Adviser To Trump's U.S. Attorney Nominee Ed Martin Warns Democratic Strategist Over MSNBC Appearance
An adviser to interim U.S. Attorney in Washington Ed Martin had a message for a Democratic strategist over a recent MSNBC appearance: 'Careful son. Choose your words wisely.' The message on X from Michael R. Caputo was to Andrew Bates, the former Biden White House deputy press secretary who now has his own political strategy firm. More from Deadline Associated Press Is Expected To Receive A Spot In Print Pool By Sunday, White House Official Says In Court Filing Google Violated Antitrust Law By Maintaining Digital Ad Technology Monopoly, Judge Rules C4 Announces Trump's First 100 Days Doc; Disney+ Sets K-Drama 'Nine Puzzles' Release; Creativity Capital & Milk VFX/Lola Unveil Hires - Global Briefs During the MSNBC segment, Bates criticized Martin for firing FBI agents and prosecutors 'because they investigated January 6th criminals.' He also attacked Martin as someone 'who presented an award to a neo-Nazi who stormed the Capitol, and said he was an extraordinary leader.' In an email response to Deadline about what he meant by his warning to Bates, Caputo sent a Webster's Dictionary link to the word 'defamation.' Caputo later repeated his warning to a post from another Democratic strategist, Chris D. Jackson. Bates also is advising a group of prosecutors who oppose Martin's nomination to be confirmed to the U.S. attorney post, in what already is a contentious battle. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has urged its chairman, Sen. Chuck Grassley (D-IA), to hold a hearing on the nomination. Among other things, Durbin wrote that at a Trump Bedminster Club ceremony last fall, Martin gave an award to Janaury 6th defendant Timothy Hale-Cusanelli and called him 'an extraordinary man, an extraordinary leader.' Democrats also have posted video of Martin's remarks at the event. In the January 6th case, prosecutors described Hale-Cusanelli as a Nazi sympathizer with a history of anti-semitic remarks. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney did not immediately return a request for comment. More recently, Durbin has cited reports that Martin did not disclose 150 appearances on Russian state TV in a Senate questionnaire. A Martin spokesperson later told The Washington Post that Martin 'disclosed all the identified links' in supplemental letter to the Senate. Caputo is a longtime Trump ally who described himself as a 'smashmouth politician,' in a Politico profile, which detailed his battle with throat cancer. Martin told The New York Times this week about his hiring, 'Because Michael has known President Trump for over 40 years, he's uniquely positioned to help us make America great again.' As interim U.S. attorney, Martin has fired off letters to various lawmakers and institutions on topics ranging from their diversity, equity and inclusion programs and Elon Musk's DOGE. In February, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) appeared on CNN to talk about how Democrats could challenge Elon Musk, the and lawmaker said, 'What America wants is for us to bring actual weapons to this bar fight. This is an actual fight for democracy.' Martin sent Garcia a letter, asking him to clarify his comments and warning 'we take threats against public officials very seriously.' Garcia responded, 'So if you criticize Elon Musk, Trump's DOJ will send you this letter. Members of Congress must have the right to forcefully oppose the Trump Administration. I will not be silenced.' Martin also has taken part in defending the administration against the Associated Press after Trump officials banned the news organization from the pool because its style guidance did not switch the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. That drew criticism that Martin was acting as the president's personal lawyer rather than an official with the Justice Department. Best of Deadline 'Ransom Canyon' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The New Netflix Western Romance Series Everything We Know About 'Emily In Paris' Season 5 So Far Everything We Know About Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners': From The Themes To How It Was Shot
