CNN is asking for an emergency hearing after White House officials vowed to revoke reporter Jim Acosta’s press credentials again once a court-ordered temporary restraining order expires.
Earlier this month, CNN took the White House to court for revoking Acosta’s press pass under the pretenses that he “put his hands” on an intern who tried to take away the microphone during a tense exchange with President Trump at a post-election news conference.
A judge ordered the White House to reinstate Acosta’s press pass, pointing out that the network was likely to win its case on Fifth Amendment grounds because the administration did not provide Acosta due process.
After reinstating his press pass, Acosta received a letter Friday that his press pass would be revoked again once the 14-day restraining order the judge ordered in the case expires.
CNN asked for an emergency hearing Monday, saying that the Trump administration is “yet again … violating the constitutional rights of CNN and Acosta.”
“These actions threaten all journalists and news organizations,” CNN said in a statement. “Jim Acosta and CNN will continue to report the news about the White House and the President.”
WH Says Acosta Broke the Rules:
White House communications chief Bill Shine and Sanders told Acosta that he “violated basic standards governing such events.”
The letter said that reporters are expected to ask just one question when they are called on and then yield the floor unless they are allowed to ask a follow-up question.
“These basic commonsense practices are necessary for orderly press conferences that are fair to all journalists in attendance,” the letter said.
Acosta Lawyer Rips WH: Acosta’s attorney said in a court document that the letter was an “attempt to provide retroactive due process.”
“To say the least, the letter is a disappointing response to the court’s decision and our attempts to resolve the matter amicably,” the attorney said. “More fundamentally, though, it is further evidence of your clients’ animus towards Mr. Acosta based on his work as CNN’s chief White House correspondent.”
