(New York, NY) – In a letter, President Trump’s attorneys today threatened to sue CNN for allegedly misrepresenting itself as a news organization. That threat follows a pattern of reprisals launched by the White House against journalists. PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel issued the following statement:

“It is a disgrace to see the president of the United States attempt to exploit the rule of law to silence a free press. This is the very reason PEN America sued the president, having watched him repeatedly and unconstitutionally try to retaliate against media he dislikes. Time and again, Trump has sought to exert his power over the news industry to control news coverage of the administration, either through threats to kick journalists out of press briefings, revocation of White House press credentials for PEN America Members like Jim Acosta, Dana Milbank, and Brian Karem, or using the machinery of government to undermine the merger of CNN’s parent company, Time Warner, with AT&T. That this threat is made in his personal capacity should mislead no one.  The president should be upholding the First Amendment, not flouting it at every turn.”

Read more about PEN America lawsuit against the president and our work defending a free press.

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PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.

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