| As AP Sues For Oval Office
Access Judge Asks How Many Events
in 2024 as Butler Photo Cited
by
Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book
Substack
DDC
COURTHOUSE,
March 27 – In Associated
Press' lawsuit about being
removed from the press pool
covering events in the Oval
Office in the White House, an
evidentiary hearing began on
March 27 before Judge Trevor
N. McFadden. Inner City Press
was there. From the thread:
All rise! Judge
Trevor N. McFadden: I have
received the Government's
late-filed declaration and the
AP's motion to strike it. I
will deny that motion.
The Local Rules speak to
briefings. AP lawyer
Charles D. Tobin: We will put
on two live witnesses
Judge
McFadden: I view it on a
spectrum, four scenarios. I
think the Government agrees
under the case law that AP has
a right to access East Room
events, where other press can.
On the other hand it has not
right to an interview with
President Trump...
AP's Tobin:
I can confirm we are not
seeking an exclusive
interview. US Attorney's
Office Civil DIvision chief
Brian P. Hudak: If the press
stormed the stage in the Brady
briefing room, we might have
to rethink the hard pass
system, make it more like the
Oval Vucci: We did get an
exclusive interview with
President Biden...
AP's Tobin: Does
the exclusion of AP hurt the
public? DOJ's Hudak: Not sure
if you're taking objections,
but we object. Judge: I am
entertaining objections, but I
overrule this one
Vucci: Yes, it
deprives the public of our
fact-based non partisan
news. AP's Tobin: Are
you hurt by not being on Air
Force 1? Vucci: Yes. Trump
loves to talk, he'll come back
in the cabin. We miss that. I
was on AF1 when Reince Priebus
was fired, down back stairs
Cross
examination. DOJ's Hudak: You
said there is a pecking order,
the order in which journalists
walk into the Oval Office?
Vucci: It's based on how many
people your media reaches. I
think AP reaches 4 billion
people.
DOJ's
Hudak: Let me show you some
photos for sale on the AP
website. You see this one, of
Karoline Leavitt - it was
talking by SIPA USA, but AP is
selling it. Vucci: I think we
have a distribution deal. I am
not on the business side.
DOJ's Hudak: AP
still has access to Pebble
Beach, where dignitaries come
in? Vucci: Yes. These days I
go out there and take
photographs of the people
being interviewed by others.
DOJ's Hudak: AP can still
photograph Elon Musk and his
kid getting on Marine One? Yes
DOJ's Hudak: You
talked about preserving
history, but it is also about
making money - this SIPA
photo, AP is selling it for
$35 to $495, right? Vucci:
People don't only buy from our
website. DOJ's Hudak: The
meeting with Zelenskyy, NPR
ended up running AP? Yes
DOJ's
Hudak: And AP, ever since
March 1, has had access to all
tarmac events, right? Vucci: I
don't know, I don't work
weekends. Judge McFadden:
Seniority has its benefits, I
see. Let me ask: you can take
a flattering picture or not?
Vucci: Yes. But we're fair
Judge:
Since the ban, have you
changed your coveage? Vucci:
No, I am a professional. Judge
McFadden: How does the number
of Oval Office events compare
to last year? Vucci: We were
allowed into all. Judge: But
how many were there? Vucci: I
don't know
Thread continues
with Zeke Miller
Extra on X for
Subscribers here
and Substack here
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