(New York, NY) – A DC District Court judge today ruled against the White House and ordered the Trump administration to reinstate the hard press pass for reporter and PEN American Member Brian Karem. PEN America previously filed an amicus brief In support of Karem’s lawsuit.

PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel issued the following statement:

“We are pleased to hear that the DC District Court has ruled in favor of Brian Karem’s emergency request for relief and for the immediate reinstatement of his hard press pass. The revocation of Brian’s press pass by the White House was just the latest in a long line of unconstitutional attacks on the media for coverage that the president dislikes. It’s why we filed an amicus brief in Brian’s case and it’s why we sued the president last year — to defend the core First Amendment rights of our Members like Brian, Jim Acosta, and Dana Milbank, to name a few. At the heart of it, we have observed the president engage in an ongoing scheme to target, silence, and exact reprisals against reporters and media outlets whose coverage is critical of him. Every day that passes with those like Karem unable to cover news at the White House harms both him and the American public.”

PEN America has also filed its own lawsuit against President Trump insisting he not use the powers of his office to retaliate against the press.

CONTACT: Stephen Fee, Director of Communications, [email protected], +1 202 309 8892