Judge Rules In CNN's Favor In Lawsuit Against Trump Over Acosta Press Pass
- 5 years ago
A judge on Friday ruled in CNN’s favor in its lawsuit against the Trump administration over Jim Acosta's revoked press credentials.
A judge on Friday ruled in CNN's favor in its lawsuit against the Trump administration to have correspondent Jim Acosta's White House press pass reinstated after it was revoked by President Trump on November 7. In arguments given on Wednesday, Deputy Assistant Attorney General James Burnham noted that President Trump has the authority to bar whomever he would like from the White House's West Wing, reports ABC News. Burnham also said doing so to one journalist is not a First Amendment violation, as other members of the press are still able to be present. Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr., CNN's lawyer, who largely based his case on a 1971 decision that barring press because of what they report is a violation of the First Amendment, countered by noting that what Trump called "rudeness" is "really is a code word for 'I don't like you being an aggressive reporter.'" He also stressed that reporters are neither the same nor interchangeable as each has different sources and paths to breaking stories. CNN reported, prior to the decision, multitudes of news organizations, including NBC News, the Washington Post, and Fox News, issued a joint statement of support for Acosta, CNN, and journalists at large.
Trump's controversial move against Acosta occurred after the two men clashed during last week's press conference.
According to the New York Times: "Their exchange grew heated when Mr. Acosta repeatedly challenged the president's characterization of a Central American migrant caravan as an invasion. Mr. Trump responded by lashing out at Mr. Acosta, saying, 'Honestly, I think you should let me run the country — you run CNN.'"
The Times says Trump also called Acosta "a rude, terrible person" for refusing "several times to sit down or to return a microphone to a White House intern who sought to retrieve it."
A judge on Friday ruled in CNN's favor in its lawsuit against the Trump administration to have correspondent Jim Acosta's White House press pass reinstated after it was revoked by President Trump on November 7. In arguments given on Wednesday, Deputy Assistant Attorney General James Burnham noted that President Trump has the authority to bar whomever he would like from the White House's West Wing, reports ABC News. Burnham also said doing so to one journalist is not a First Amendment violation, as other members of the press are still able to be present. Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr., CNN's lawyer, who largely based his case on a 1971 decision that barring press because of what they report is a violation of the First Amendment, countered by noting that what Trump called "rudeness" is "really is a code word for 'I don't like you being an aggressive reporter.'" He also stressed that reporters are neither the same nor interchangeable as each has different sources and paths to breaking stories. CNN reported, prior to the decision, multitudes of news organizations, including NBC News, the Washington Post, and Fox News, issued a joint statement of support for Acosta, CNN, and journalists at large.
Trump's controversial move against Acosta occurred after the two men clashed during last week's press conference.
According to the New York Times: "Their exchange grew heated when Mr. Acosta repeatedly challenged the president's characterization of a Central American migrant caravan as an invasion. Mr. Trump responded by lashing out at Mr. Acosta, saying, 'Honestly, I think you should let me run the country — you run CNN.'"
The Times says Trump also called Acosta "a rude, terrible person" for refusing "several times to sit down or to return a microphone to a White House intern who sought to retrieve it."