CNN’s Acosta back at White House after ruling
Trump administration must return credentials, judge orders
WASHINGTON— A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Friday to immediately return the White House press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta, though a lawsuit over the credentials’ revocation is continuing.
U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly, an appointee of President Donald Trump, announced his decision at a hearing Friday morning. The judge said Acosta’s credentials must be reactivated to allow him access to the White House complex for press briefings and other events.
Acosta, CNN’s chief White House correspondent, was back in the afternoon. The White House said it would be developing new rules for press conferences.
The White House revoked Acosta’s credentials last week after he and Trump tangled verbally during a press conference following the midterm elections. CNN sued and asked the judge to issue a temporary restraining order forcing the White House to give back Acosta’s credentials. The judge agreed. CNN alleged that Acosta’s First and Fifth Amendment rights were violated when the White House revoked his “hard pass.”
While the judge didn’t rule on the underlying case, he ordered Acosta’s pass returned for now in part because he said CNN was likely to prevail on its Fifth Amendment claim — that Acosta hadn’t received sufficient notice or explanation before his credentials were revoked or been given sufficient opportunity to respond before they were.
“In response to the court, we will temporarily reinstate the reporter’s hard pass,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a state- ment. “We will also further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future.”
On Friday afternoon, more than 50 members of the White House press corps greeted Acosta as he strode through the northwest gate of the presidential compound. He said he was grateful for the judge’s ruling, that it was a test and the media passed the test.
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” on Twitter and in public comments.
At last week’s press conference, 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,” while calling on another reporter.
Acosta attempted to ask another question about special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation and declined to give up a microphone to a White House intern. Trump responded by saying he wasn’t concerned about the investigation, calling it a “hoax,” and criticized Acosta, calling him a “rude, terrible person.” Hours later, the White House pulled Acosta’s credentials.