Posted on 07/01/2026 4:33:37 AM PDT by Red Badger
A federal judge on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Pentagon's policy requiring escorts for reporters.
US District Judge Paul Friedman, a Clinton appointee, sided with the New York Times and blocked the Pentagon from enforcing its policy requiring the reporters to be accompanied by an official escort.
The judge's injunction only applies to reporters with the New York Times.
Politico reported:
A federal district court judge on Tuesday blocked the Defense Department from requiring journalists to be accompanied by an official escort in the Pentagon, siding with The New York Times in its latest legal fight with the administration over press access.
The Times sued the Pentagon to halt its escort mandate in May, arguing that the policy contravened “reporters’ ability to report on the Department and the U.S. military quickly, accurately, and comprehensively.”
Judge Paul Friedman, a Clinton appointee, issued a preliminary injunction against the policy on Tuesday, writing that by “singling out journalists, the escort policy ‘undercut[s] the basic assumption of our political system that the press will often serve as an important restraint on government.’” Friedman’s order applies to those affiliated with The Times and not the broader Pentagon press corps.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The ruling marks the latest legal setback in the Defense Department’s yearlong effort to crack down on press freedom on the Pentagon’s campus.
Last year, Pentagon reporters turned in their badges after they refused to sign Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s new security rule.
(Excerpt) Read more at thegatewaypundit.com ...
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So, “journalists” now have unfettered access to every inch of the pentagon including classified areas? This is such a ridiculous, TDS-driven ruling. The judges don’t even pretend to have any impartiality any more.
Hegsetth is not very smart if he does not tell the judge to go to hell. That judge has no authority whatsoever to tell the Defense Department who can be allowed on the premises.
We may need a new definition for the old phrase ‘hanging judge’.....................
Did not SCOTUS rule recently that a district fed judge only has jurisdiction within in their own area? Musta’ been a dream I had. /s
Just ban the ones Trump doesn’t like.
Easy peasy.
So deny access past the lobby.
“Did not SCOTUS rule recently that a district fed judge only has jurisdiction within in their own area?”
Yes. But scofflaws are ignoring SCOTUS rulings. Biden was the first to blatantly do so, IIRC.
“Biden v. Nebraska”. Biden ignored the ruling re student loan forgiveness.
“Sackett v. EPA”. Biden ignored the ruling re Waters Of The United States.
“Alabama Association of Realtors v. Department of Health and Human Services.” Biden ignored the ruling re an eviction moratorium during Covid.
This is a huge security risk. Think those reporters are not going to have their phones?
Close the door to all reporters until ruling is changed.
I was public affairs for the Air Force for 22 years and dealt with the media on a regular basis. They cannot be allowed to roam unfettered in a military environment. A reporter can get up to mischief faster than a kid in a candy store.
The judiciary has become a political activism command center for anything Trump related to be reversed.
I was a contractor and had to be escorted at all times. Searched going in and searched going out, and that was after the FBI background check which is amazingly thorough.
No escort, no entry. Next!
Strip them nekked, delouse and shower, dress in TYVEK proximity suits and loose them in the boiler rooms for a proper sweating.
So... the public has the same free access to the judge’s chambers...
US District Judge Paul Friedman is a traitor to the United States of america.
It’s simple to fix this. Declare every area within the Pentagon other than the lobby a SCIF. Problem solved.
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