CNN reports the Executive Committee of the Congressional Radio & Television Correspondents' Galleries has voted unanimously to revoke RT's press credentials.
The move comes just weeks after the Department of Justice forced the Russian state-run media organization to register as a foreign agent. The Committee broke the news to the production company in charge of RT America in a letter:
"The rules of the Galleries state clearly that news credentials may not be issued to any applicant employed 'by any foreign government or representative thereof.' Upon its registration as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), RT Network became ineligible to hold news credentials," the letter states. The rule is stated on the official Congressional Radio & Television Correspondents' Galleries website, which includes a list of requirements that journalists must abide by in order to gain membership.
RT did not have an immediate response to this latest development, but over the weekend, Vladimir Putin fought back on the network's behalf, signing a new law that could limit foreign media outlets operating in Russia:
"According to the text of the law, media that receive financial assistance from foreign states or organizations can be recognized as foreign agents, while the decision on which outlets will be classified as 'foreign agents' will be taken by the Ministry of Justice."
The Russian Justice Ministry last week published a list of nine U.S.-backed news outlets that it said could be affected by the changes.
It said it had written to the U.S. government-sponsored Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), along with seven separate Russian or local-language news outlets run by RFE/RL.
Congressional press office yanks RT's credentials (CNN)
In retaliatory move, Putin signs media 'foreign agents' law (CNN)