New York Times accuses Pentagon of flouting judge’s order blocking its press access policy
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pentagon ignored a warning court order A New York Times lawyer urged a federal judge Monday to force the government to comply with the 10-day order, arguing that it blocked enforcement of a policy restricting news reporters’ access to Defense Department headquarters.
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman did not immediately rule from the bench after hearing a second round of arguments from the newspaper and Trump administration lawyers. The Times alleges that Pentagon officials implemented a revised press policy that circumvented the judge’s March 20 ruling.
Friedman sided with The Times earlier this month in ruling that the Pentagon’s new identity policy violated journalists’ constitutional rights to free speech and due process. HE He gave orders to Pentagon officials He stressed that this decision, which demanded the return of press credentials of seven Times reporters, applied to “all regulated parties”.
Times lawyer Theodore Boutrous said the Pentagon responded to Friedman’s order by implementing a new, revised policy that imposes “radical new restrictions” on journalists.
“They made things worse,” Bourous said.
Government attorney Sarah Welch said the Defense Department’s revised policy on media access to the Pentagon includes several “safe harbors” that protect reporters engaged in routine forms of news gathering. “The Department has fully complied with this (March 20) order in good faith,” Welch told the judge.
Contradictions emerge in Pentagon’s new approach
One application to court On Sunday, Times national security correspondent Julian Barnes said Pentagon staff explained to him and his colleagues last week that the new credentials would give them access to a new press area located in the Pentagon library. However, Barnes noted that the only way reporters could access the library was through a corridor or via a shuttle bus that they were not licensed to use, prompting a harsh response from Friedman.
“How weird is this?” said the judge. “Article 22? Kafka? What’s going on here?”
Reporters from mainstream news sources in October went out Instead of accepting the new rules. Times He filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will object to the policy in December.
Lawyers for the Times accused the Pentagon of violating the judge’s March 20 order “in letter and spirit” by issuing a revised “interim” policy banning authorized reporters from entering the building without an escort. Plaintiffs’ attorneys say the latest policy also imposes unprecedented rules governing when reporters can offer anonymity to sources.
“The intent is clear: the Interim Policy is an attempt to conclude around this Court’s decision.” newspaper lawyers wrote.
Pentagon says it complies
Government lawyers said the Pentagon’s revised policy was fully consistent with the judge’s directives.
“In fact, Plaintiffs ask this Court to expand the Order with conditions that would address issues or concerns similar to those ordered, so as to prohibit the Department from addressing the Pentagon’s security through a press authentication policy. The Order does not say that, and this Court should not read it to say that.” Ministry of Justice lawyers wrote.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the administration would appeal Friedman’s March 20 decision.
The Pentagon Press Association, which includes Associated Press reporters, said the Pentagon’s interim policy preserves provisions Friedman found unconstitutional while also imposing new restrictions on driver’s license holders.
“The Interim Policy moves reporters’ workspace to an additional facility outside the Pentagon and prohibits any reporter from moving within the Pentagon without escort, further limiting their ability to conduct journalism in the forum specifically designated for that purpose.” An association lawyer wrote.
The current Pentagon press corps consists mostly of conservative outlets that accept this policy. Journalists in media outlets that refused to consent to the new rules, including the AP, continuous reporting in the military.
Friedman, who was nominated to the bench by Democratic President Bill Clinton, said in his order that recent U.S. military operations in Venezuela and Iran underscore the need for public access to information about government activities.
