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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