Thread by @ZoeTillman

A DC federal judge just heard arguments on whether to grant an injunction blocking the White House from temporarily suspending reporter Brian Karem's White House credentials – no ruling from the bench, the judge said to expect one by Friday or Tuesday at the latest

For background on Brian Karem's credential suspension after he tangled with Sebastian Gorka at the WH after the social media summit: google.com/amp/s/beta.was…

Judge Rudolph Contreras didn't give a clear indication of how he'd rule – he said the standards articulated by the WH were vague, so he was struggling to figure out where the line was. But he also said he didn't buy that Karem was an innocent actor in the situation

For instance, during args from Karem's lawyer Ted Boutrous, the judge said he didn't buy the arg that when Karem talked about taking it "outside" w/ Gorka, that meant Karem just wanted to talk. But he also said he thought Karem was just being snarky, not actually posing a threat

In trying to figure out the line, Contreras asked Boutrous about a situation where someone dropped their pants and mooned the president, or shouted obscenities. Boutrous said this was different, but that there was a history of rowdy/boisterous interactions between press and WH

Boutrous argued the Secret Service, and not the press sec., should be making the call about whether a reporter's credential should be revoked. He argued this was part of a broader effort by the Trump admin to go after the press: "They're mocking journalism in the White House."

DOJ lawyer James Burnham argued Karem did get due process – a preliminary notice, a chance to argue his case, and then a detailed letter from Press Sec Stephanie Grisham explaining her decision

(Of note: Burnham's boss Jody Hunt, head of the Civil Division, was in attendance)

Burnham argued that it's "extraordinary" to argue Grisham shouldn't be able to make a decision about pulling a press badge, given her role in deciding who gets one and the extent of press access at WH events and to the president

When Contreras asked about the broader context to the day – for instance, the fact that Gorka also escalated things – Burnham said Karem was in a different position as a credentialed reporter, while Gorka was just there as an invited guest

So now we wait for a decision. Karem's lawyer had argued for a temporary restraining order, but at the end Contreras seemed to indicate he'd just rule on it as a preliminary injunction motion – an order on a PI can be appealed right away, while a TRO generally can't