White House officials sued by AP for press access ban

The Associated Press (AP) filed a lawsuit against White House officials after the news agency was barred from the Oval Office over its refusal to refer to the Gulf of America by its new name.

AP said the ban violated the First and Fifth Amendments and named White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich as defendants. The media agency further underscored the decision to block its journalists from the Oval Office and Air Force One violated editorial independence guaranteed by the constitution of the United States and forced reporters to use “government-approved language.”