Western Reader
In a surprising development, the White House has introduced new rules for press passes, leading to the removal of over 440 reporters from the White House press corps.
This revelation, reported by The Gateway Pundit in May 2023, signifies a major shift in the dynamics of the White House press corps.
One of the affected individuals is Simon Ateba, the Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa.
Ateba received a letter threatening to revoke his press pass, which he considers a violation of his First and Fifth Amendment rights. The letter outlined the new rules that prompted this significant change.
After 440 Reporters Purged from White House, Today News Africa Reporter Simon Ateba Files Lawsuit Against Karine Jean-Pierre
— Constitutionalist 💯 🇺🇲 (@Kc_Casey1) August 12, 2023
Refusing to be silenced, Ateba took a bold step forward. On a Thursday, he filed a federal lawsuit, “Ateba v Jean-Pierre,” against White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and the Secret Service. The lawsuit claims that Ateba’s press badge was unfairly revoked due to alleged disruptions during press briefings.
The Center for American Liberty, which filed the lawsuit on Ateba’s behalf, argues that the revocation of his press badge is a clear infringement on his constitutional rights.
The Blaze reported comments from Harmeet Dhillon, CEO of the Center for American Liberty, criticizing the new press credential requirements, stating, “The White House’s new press credential requirements are unconstitutional and directly target Simon.”
After 440 Reporters Purged from White House, Today News Africa Reporter Simon Ateba Files Lawsuit Against Karine Jean-Pierre via @gatewaypundit https://t.co/eopER2sYnM
— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) August 12, 2023
Dhillon further criticized the White House’s approach, saying, “By outsourcing the credentialing process, the White House is giving a group of elite-minded journalists unbridled discretion to pick and choose which reporters and outlets are worthy of holding the White House accountable.”
He urged the court to uphold the First Amendment and declare these new requirements unconstitutional so that Ateba can continue his work.
Ateba himself has been vocal about his fight. In a tweet, he announced, “After years of discrimination and targeting, I just filed my First Amendment Rights lawsuit against @whitehouse and the @PressSec Karine Jean-Pierre.” He also hinted at future lawsuits against other entities, including the Washington Post and Politico.
In a passionate statement, Ateba said, “When you deliberately assassinate someone’s character, it’s not that different from assassinating them on the street. Assassins have to be held accountable. God help me.”
His words reflect the seriousness of the situation and the difficult battle he faces in seeking justice.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of freedom of the press and its role in holding those in power accountable. We will continue to follow Ateba’s fight for his constitutional rights.
This article appeared in The Patriot Brief and has been published here with permission.
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