The New York Times says it will sue US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, arguing that new press access rules introduced in October violate constitutional press freedoms. The lawsuit will be filed in federal court in Washington, D.C.
NYT spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander said the policy allows the government to control unwanted reporting and violates First and Fifth Amendment rights.
In January, Pentagon reporters were told to sign documents accepting the new rules, which allow press cards to be revoked for requesting certain information. Many journalists refused, turned in their credentials, and left the Pentagon. Parnell responded, “These journalists chose to exile themselves and no one will miss them.”