A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to immediately return the White House press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta.
U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly, an appointee of President Donald Trump, announced his decision following a hearing in Washington. The judge said Acosta’s credentials would be returned immediately and reactivated to allow him access to the White House.
CNN had asked the judge to force the White House to immediately hand back the credentials that give Acosta, CNN’s chief White House correspondent, access to the White House complex for press briefings and other events. CNN asked for Acosta’s credentials restored while a lawsuit over his credentials’ revocation goes forward.
The White House revoked Acosta’s credentials after he and Trump tangled during a press conference last week.
The judge said the government could not say who initially decided to revoke Acosta’s hard pass. The White House had spelled out its reasons for revoking his credentials in a tweet from White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and in a statement after CNN filed its lawsuit. But the judge said those “belated efforts were hardly sufficient to satisfy due process.”
The judge also found that Acosta suffered “irreparable harm,” dismissing the government’s argument that CNN could just send other reporters to cover the White House in Acosta’s place.
The judge told attorneys to file additional court papers in the case by Monday.
BREAKING: Federal judge Timothy J. Kelly sided with CNN on Friday, ordering the White House to reinstate chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta’s press pass – CNN
— Breaking911 (@breaking9111) November 16, 2018
Trump has made his dislike of CNN clear since before he took office and continuing into his presidency. He has described the network as “fake news” both on Twitter and in public comments.
At last week’s press conference, which followed the midterm elections, Trump was taking questions from reporters and called on Acosta, who asked about Trump’s statements about a caravan of migrants making its way to the U.S.-Mexico border. After a terse exchange, Trump told Acosta, “That’s enough,” several times while calling on another reporter.
Acosta attempted to ask another question about special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation and initially declined to give up a hand-held microphone to a White House intern. Trump responded to Acosta by saying he wasn’t concerned about the investigation, calling it a “hoax,” and then criticized Acosta, calling him a “rude, terrible person.”
The White House pulled Acosta’s credentials hours later.
The White House’s explanations for why it seized Acosta’s credentials have shifted over the last week.
Sanders initially explained the decision by accusing Acosta of making improper physical contact with the intern seeking to grab the microphone.
But that rationale disappeared after witnesses backed Acosta’s account that he was just trying to keep the microphone, and Sanders distributed a doctored video that made it appear Acosta was more aggressive than he actually was. On Tuesday, Sanders accused Acosta of being unprofessional by trying to dominate the questioning at the news conference.
(AP)
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18 Responses
Trump can stop holding news conferences (perhaps replacing them with group interviews to media he likes), and his staff can refuse to talk to CNN.
This actually scares me. That a judge could say something so absolutely insane is a very frightening idea. The notion that a reporter can be so utterly disrespectful, obnoxious and aggressive, and the president has some constitutional responsibility to keep him there is beyond belief! There’s no obligation to have press corps. There’s no obligation to accept someone into the WH. There’s definitely no obligation to have to allow a reporter argue and berate you and have to stand there and listen. He said “there’s no invasion”. That’s simply disagreeing with the president. He’s entitled to think, and even espouse his opinion. But that the president has to allow him to be so impudent and take it?!?! It’s beyond words and beyond belief that some insane judge actually defends this in the name of the constitution.
People, this is scary. If someone sitting on a bench can be so incredibly twisted, so unabashedly dishonest just looking to ingratiate himself with the media….. I remember feeling this way by the Rubashkin sentencing. It was just so insane. Hashem yerachem, I hope no frum Jew should ever have to stand in front of a court. The bias against just normal common sense is so overwhelming.
[And just pertaining to the argument that there’s no invasion….THAT’S INSANE! There’s no other way to describe it. There’s no country in the world that just allows thousands and thousands of people into their midst because they came. Allowing such a policy would be signing a death warrant against any country let alone the US. And the media, yes, an unapologetic enemy of the people, is pushing for such insanity. Hashem yerachem!]
I hope they ignore this piece of garbage during the press conferences, so he’ll be like a piece of furniture.
The president must be apoplectic that Judge Kelly ruled in favor of Acosta on 1st Amendment issues. Silencing the press is steps away from fascism, study your history people. Don’t be frightened that the constitution protects people even if they have opinions that may be different.than yours . For those moaning about the ruling, I ask, have you read it? Or are you just reacting to the reportage? The ruling is pretty simple and it’s available online. Consider making an informed decision before being triggered.
This is all about Jim Acosta and always has been. That monkey might as well put on a red vest and start crashing cymbals together for attention because that’s what he is all about.
Great day for freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Trump appointee Judge Timothy Kelly is a true conservative and has issued a ruiling that will stregnthen democracy.
Sarah Sanders attempt to frame Acosta with doctored videp has failed. The rule of law has prevailed.
Don the Con will undoubtedly be upset that unlike his buddies Putin, Kim and Bin Salman he cannot just silence his critics but America is greater than the very small and petty man who occupies the oval office.
Checks and balances will protect the country and its citizens.
A craven, coward of a judge and judicial overreach. Allowing an obnoxious verbal & physical abuser and his cohort, April Ryan to use our WH as their public privvy.
Anyone remember Obama berating a reporter and calling the WH ” my house” ?
Can’t wait for him to show up at a Trump rally, and watch the crowd’s reaction when they lay eyes on him
akuperma November 16, 2018 10:58 am at 10:58 am
Trump can stop holding news conferences (perhaps replacing them with group interviews to media he likes), and his staff can refuse to talk to CNN.
WELL SAID
Great news!
I write a weekly newsletter for my class.
I assume the first amendment also applies to me. That being the case, where do I go to pock up my press pass for white house?
I would also like to interview President Trump on air force one, so I’ll need a pass for that as well. If I don’t receive it, my first amendment rights are being trampled on!
The president is the last person to identify another’s behavior as disrespectful. What short memories his followers have.
Don’t we have the right to have decorum and respect the White House? Why should the president be subject to abuse and disrespect on his own turf?
Acosta is not a reporter. He is an activist. He lectures the president on his opinions and dresses them as questions. CNN should know better. Reporters are supposed to be impartial. By now CNN has spiraled down to a tabloid level organization. They are no longer a news organization only the spokes people of the left.
The Whitehorse needs to set standards. At this point revoke ALL press credentials revoke of everyone. Then give them back after they agree to keep a decorum ie no shouting questions out of order, giving back the mike when asked, not standing up when told to sit down. Asking questions without a lengthy introduction that is out of place.
Just don’t ever call on him. I think it’ll be hysterical, and more bitter for him than not being allowed in.
ami azoli
to your utterly lefty brain dead brain…YOU SPEAK WITH RESPECT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!! this has nothing with free pres!1
you brain dead lefty that always comes with JUDAISM when oit suits your purpose.. do you knowthinstructed moishe rabeinu to speak with respect to paroh the 1st hitler!! ah that you dont …no in torah these
no freedom of ..
> rt
“Checks and balances will protect the country and its citizens.”
Yep, When it is a Trump appointee that values the actual Constitution over a “party” line ideology. Can’t say the same for the Democrat appointees.
shimen, it’s hard to have a dialog with an adult who is only interested in name calling and having a childish fit. Calm down, it can’t possibly be healthy for you. . Have a good night and a pleasant tomorrow.
DUMP TRUMP!!!
As of today, the WH has backed down but unfortunately didn’t inform Kellyanne Conway. She sure looked foolish when being questioned about the issues.