Can’t bar Acosta, Don judge rules

Jim Acosta’s White House press pass — stripped from him after a heated exchange between the CNN correspondent and President Trump last week — must be temporarily reinstated, a Trump-appointed federal judge ruled Friday.

CNN had argued that the journalist’s constitutional rights had been violated by President Trump, his chief of staff John Kelly, deputy chief of staff Bill Shine, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Secret Service director Randolph Alles.

“We are gratified with this result and we look forward to a full resolution in the coming days,” CNN and Acosta said in a joint statement. “Our sincere thanks to all who have supported not just CNN, but a free, strong and independent American press.”

Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed by Trump, ruled that the White House had violated Acosta’s due process and ordered both sides to file joint status reports next week on how to proceed.