CNN sues administration over Acosta’s credentials

CNN sued the Trump administration Tuesday in an effort to reinstate the press credentials of its chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta, escalating a dispute that has highlighted the increasingly tense dynamic between President Donald Trump and the media.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, the network argued that the removal of Acosta’s White House press pass constituted a violation of his First Amendment rights to freely report on the government. CNN also asserted that the administration had violated Acosta’s due process rights guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment when it revoked his credentials without warning.

Acosta, who has frequently clashed with Trump, angered the president at a formal news conference last week with questions about immigration and the special counsel’s investigation. The CNN correspondent would not give up the microphone after Trump tried to move onto another reporter.

Hours later, the press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, announced that the administration had removed Acosta’s credentials, which allowed him access to the White House grounds. The administration falsely claimed that Acosta had placed his hands on a White House intern who had tried to take his microphone away during the news conference.

“While the suit is specific to CNN and Acosta, this could have happened to anyone,” CNN said in a statement. “If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials.”

A hearing on the lawsuit was set for Wednesday afternoon. The judge in the case is Timothy J. Kelly, who was nominated last year by Trump and then approved by the Senate.

Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, the White House responded with a statement. “This is just more grandstanding from CNN, and we will vigorously defend against this lawsuit,” Sanders wrote, noting that dozens of other CNN journalists have retained their White House credentials.

Sanders is named as a defendant in the suit, along with Trump; his chief of staff, John Kelly; the head of White House communications strategy, Bill Shine; and the Secret Service.

Andrew Napolitano, a former Superior Court judge in New Jersey and sometime Trump confidant, said Tuesday that he expected CNN to prevail. “Obviously, Acosta may have been an irritant to the president, but he was hardly a danger to him,” Napolitano said on the Fox Business Network. “CNN’s got a very good case. I think this will be resolved quickly. I don’t expect a jury trial.”