Judge Grants CNN’s Motion to Restore Jim Acosta’s White House Press Pass

The Wall Street Journal ^ | 16 Nov 18 | Byron Tau

[BlackFemaleArmyColonel]

The cable network made an emergency request so its correspondent could have access to the White House as lawsuit continues.

WASHINGTON—A federal judge granted an emergency motion to restore the White House press credential of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta—a victory for the network in a closely watched press-freedom case.

The lawsuit could determine whether the government can ban individual reporters from public buildings.

District Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed to the bench by President Trump, granted CNN’s request for a restraining order temporarily restoring Mr. Acosta’s press access to the White House while the case proceeds.

Lawyers for Mr. Acosta, the network’s chief White House correspondent, argued that the unusual revocation of a reporter’s press pass by the White House last week necessitated emergency action.

Mr. Trump has regularly attacked CNN, and Thursday’s ruling was a setback for the White House. Government lawyers acknowledged in court they knew of no other situation where the White House had revoked a press pass under similar circumstances.

The legal maneuvering was part of a CNN lawsuit alleging that the Trump administration violated Mr. Acosta’s First Amendment right to gather news, as well as his due-process right to challenge a government-imposed punishment. Judge Kelly didn’t rule on the merits of CNN’s overall case.

[JME_FAN]

“A wife who doesn’t want a mob of crazed Democrats banging on her door at 0 dark 30.”

That’s why they make 12-gauge pump shotguns and 000 buckshot.
You just have to be willing to use them.

[IamConservative]

Who else gets a press pass now?

Exactly. Effectively, there is no such thing now. Everyone has a right to one.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Where did little Timmy the Pig God get the authority to do this? POTUS needs to have the bastard arrested and thrown in jail until the boy comes back down to earth again. He’s definitely having mental issues.

[Truth29]

"A Federal Presidential Judge will simply order that the White House must resume holding press conferences. Then A Federal Presidential Judge will rule that Jim Acosta is the only “reporter” that can ask questions. Then A Federal Presidential Judge will rule that Jim Acosta is the only “reporter” that may attend the mandatory conferences. Then A Federal Presidential Judge will rule that The White House must answer to Jim Acosta. Then Jeff Flake will sponsor legislation that protects Jim Acosta from Trump. Welcome to Hell."

Then Jim Acosta suffers a tragic accident that requires that his jaw be wired shut.

[VanDeKoik]

If every person in the “press” is entitled to a press pass, then the profession must now be defined, which will then lead to licenses, and then to cartels.

[JayAr36]

Judges and lawyers, the death of America.

How did they ever become Gods?

[RideForever]

Where is the ‘right to collect news’ mentioned in the Constitution? Does this mean strangers can enter any household to listen in to dinner conversations in search of ‘news’?

[for-q-clinton]

You think Acosta won’t shout over everyone else? And now with a judge saying he has a right to be there he will be even worse.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Disband the WH Press Corps ... no more direct briefings, email from the Press Secretary will suffice.

Direct, one on one interviews with the President, only.

Two hand-selected reporters on AF1.

Force Costas’ colleagues to turn on him

The WH media room is closed. No hanging around on the premises.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Where’s my press pass. I worked as a journalist for many years.”

And what about MEEE? I do our family reunion Newsletter.

[BlackFemaleArmyColonel]

True.

[TonyM]

Why not end the mass breifings and just periodically have one on one “interviews” with members of the press that don’t hate the country? The ones that report fairly on the interview get follow-up interviews and the ones that don’t never do.

[GSWarrior]

I was editor of the Camp Pendleton SCOUT for a time. For real.

[Paladin2]

Accoster shpuld be arrested for impersonating a reporter.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Kelly agreed with the White House that there is no First Amendment right to be on the White House grounds, but added that Acosta did not receive due process before his pass was revoked.

I visited the White House a few months ago. I had to submit reams of personal data to pass a pretty stringent background check, and spend over an hour in line passing through multiple security checkpoints.

If I would have caused a problem while inside I suspect some uniformed Secret Service would have picked me up by the arms and given me the bums rush.

I would not have gotten any "due process". This is absurd.

[Pollard]

Meanwhile an OANN reporter tweeted that he’s lucky enough to get in one question in a quarter of a year.

Need to put OANN up front and send acosta to the back.

[RatRipper]

Exactly. The President has freedom of speech also

[GSWarrior]

I was editor of the Camp Pendleton SCOUT for a time. For real.

[z3n]

I still like my idea of giving Acosta a throne to sit in, front and center, above all the other press, and constantly mocking him by asking for permission to speak, and for his permission to let other press speak.

But in reality, since that would never happen, I’d post two security agents on his arse (secret service if it’s within their purview) and as soon as he acts up, escort his ass out.

[adorno]

You think Acosta won’t shout over everyone else?

That would constitute heckling and create grounds for removal from the room. And, another win for Trump and Sarah!