Simon Ateba, a member of the White House press corps, has taken legal action against White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and the Secret Service.

Reporter Simon Ateba is livid that KJP continues to ignore him in the briefing room:

"You have discriminated against me for the past nine months!"

KJP can't handle the slightest bit of criticism. pic.twitter.com/WicUkFucSu

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 26, 2023

Ateba alleges that his press badge was unjustly revoked, claiming violations of his First and Fifth Amendment rights. This move follows President Biden’s administration introducing new rules in May, allowing for the withdrawal of press credentials for the first time.

In his lawsuit filed on Thursday, Ateba contends that the changes made to the criteria for hard pass credentials were specifically tailored to exclude him from obtaining access.

This, he argues, constitutes a form of viewpoint discrimination and content-based regulation, both of which he believes infringe upon his First Amendment rights. Ateba’s concerns raise questions about press freedom and the White House’s commitment to open dialogue.

The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on this matter, leaving Ateba’s claims and concerns unanswered. This silence from the administration raises eyebrows, especially considering the importance of transparency and communication.

Ateba’s press pass expired on July 31, and despite attempts to renew it, he has been unable to do so.

His case highlights the critical role of press access in democratic societies, particularly within the White House briefing room. Currently, there are 975 reporters with White House hard passes, granting them the privilege of free access to press events and briefings.

Journalists without hard passes are required to request a day pass for specific dates, creating a potentially cumbersome process that could limit their ability to cover important events in a timely manner.

This discrepancy in access raises concerns about fairness and equal treatment for members of the press.

Ateba, a journalist for Today News Africa, has been at the center of several contentious exchanges in the briefing room. Notably, he confronted Jean-Pierre during a March 20 briefing, criticizing the lack of opportunity to ask questions.

The View’ CoHosts Get Nasty Talking About African Reporter KJP Refuses to Answer Questions From

Today News Africa reporter Simon Ateba, an actual journalist, interrupted White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s star-studded Monday briefing.
🤡🌎 pic.twitter.com/641NjlpMaV

— 🇬🇧Paul Hutchinson🇬🇧As One☝️🇬🇧 (@PaulHut91434196) March 25, 2023