Associated Press Sues Trump Administration Officials For Banning Outlet Over Refusal To Make “Gulf Of Mexico” Name Change

deadline.com:

The Associated Press filed suit today against members of the Trump administration after it prohibited the news service from access to White House events because it refused to change references of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. “The White House has ordered The Associated Press to use certain words in its coverage or else face an indefinite denial of access,” the lawsuit states. “The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government.

The Constitution does not allow the government to control speech. Allowing such government control and retaliation to stand is a threat to every American’s freedom.” The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Washington, D.C., and seeks an emergency hearing to restore access.

Read the Associated Press Trump lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed against White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. “The AP therefore brings this action to vindicate its rights to the editorial independence guaranteed by the United States Constitution and to prevent the Executive Branch from coercing journalists to report the news using only government-approved language,” the lawsuit stated.

The Associated Press continues to have press passes to the White House grounds, but since last week, it has been restricted from attending pools in the Oval Office, presidential press conferences and travel aboard Air Force One.