CNN is taking Donald Trump to court over the banning of correspondent Jim Acosta from the White House. In announcing the lawsuit on CNN, anchor Poppy Harlow said “This isn’t about politics. It is a first amendment issue that is really important to our society.”
This morning, CNN filed a lawsuit against @realDonaldTrump and top aides. The White House has violated CNN and @Acosta's First Amendment rights of freedom of the press and Fifth Amendment rights to due process. Complaint: https://t.co/43oX6L8xA7 pic.twitter.com/RvJ0Cgh6oi
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) November 13, 2018
The lawsuit names Trump, Chief of Staff John Kelly, Deputy Chief of Staff Bill Shine, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and members of U.S. Secret Service.
“…on November 7, 2018, Defendants revoked Acosta’s White House credentials because, in the President’s own words, Acosta failed to “treat the White House with respect” at a White House press briefing. This severe and unprecedented punishment is the culmination of years of hostility by President Trump against CNN and Acosta based on the contents of their reporting—an unabashed attempt to censor the press and exclude reporters from the White House who challenge and dispute the President’s point of view.”
Statement from WHCA President Olivier Knox on CNN lawsuit. #whca @oknox pic.twitter.com/y5uJwnGfqb
— WHCA (@whca) November 13, 2018
CNN’s attorney Ted Boutrous said precedent is on their side in this case:
“The D.C. circuit said in a case denying the White House press pass that before the white house rejects credentials it needs to get due process because of the important first amendment issues at stake. The court said there has to be notice, written decision explaining why the credentials have been denied or revoked and an opportunity to be heard. Of course, that didn’t happen here. Mr. Acosta was just blocked and his pass was taken away when he went to report at work. That’s his workplace. When you are the chief White House correspondent for CNN or another news organization, you go to work every day at the White House. It is really damaging and harmful.”
His co-council is also responding.
Ted Olson, solicitor under Bush and CNN attorney in case to restore @Acosta press credentials, says: “The Supreme Court has held in no uncertain terms that the First Amendment protects ‘robust political debate,’ including ‘speech that is critical of those who hold public office”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 13, 2018
The attorneys are asking for a hearing today get a temporary order that would immediately restore Acosta’s credentials.