CNN sues over White House ban of its correspondent

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK — A longsimmering battle between President Donald Trump and CNN escalated Tuesday with the cable news network suing Mr. Trump and his top aides over the revocation of press credentials of its correspondent Jim Acosta.

The unusual step taken by CNN seeks the immediate return of Mr. Acosta’s pass, which was revoked after a tussle between the correspondent and a White House aide. The aide tried to take a microphone away from Mr. Acosta as he persisted in asking questions of Mr. Trump at a press conference last week. Mr. Trump has called the AT&T, Inc. unit “fake news” and frequently disparaged Mr. Acosta.

The White House was must file its response by 11 a.m. Wednesday, US District Judge Timothy Kelly in Washington said in an order. The judge will hear arguments in the case at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“This is just more grandstanding from CNN,” the White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, said.

She added that Mr. Acosta had “physically refused to surrender the White House microphone” and that “this was not the first time this reporter has inappropriately refused to yield to other reporters.”

Previously, Ms. Sanders justified the decision by accusing Mr. Acosta of “placing his hands” on the White House staffer. That claim was disputed by many of Mr. Acosta’s fellow White House reporters. In its lawsuit, CNN accused Sanders of sharing a video of the incident that “was apparently doctored” and had originated with InfoWars, an organization known for spreading conspiracy theories.

CNN’s lawsuit threatens to throw its owner, AT&T, and the Trump administration back in court just months after the two sides squared off before a judge over whether AT&T can buy Time Warner, Inc. AT&T won the case, though the Justice Department has appealed the decision.

The White House revoked Mr. Acosta’s pass that allows him unescorted on the White House grounds.

Without his press credentials, Mr. Acosta’s ability to perform his job as White House correspondent “is effectively eliminated,” CNN said in its lawsuit.

“While the suit is specific to CNN and Mr. Acosta, this could have happened to anyone,” CNN said in a statement.

“If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House could create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials.”

Named in the lawsuit are Mr. Trump, his chief of staff John Kelly, his deputy chief of staff Bill Shine and Ms. Sanders, the press secretary. —