WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Friday ordered the White House to temporarily reinstate the press credential of CNN reporter Jim Acosta.
U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly, appointed to the bench by President Trump, granted CNN’s request for a court order to restore Acosta’s White House “hard pass” while a lawsuit over its revocation moves forward.
The White House pulled Acosta’s press pass last week following a heated exchange with Pres. Trump during a televised press conference.
CNN filed suit against Pres. Trump, press secretary Sarah Sanders, and other White House officials on Tuesday, arguing that the move violated the First and Fifth Amendment rights of both CNN and Acosta.
Judge Kelly ruled on the basis of their Fifth Amendment claims, saying that the White House did not provide Acosta with the due process required to legally revoke his press pass.
Kelly said broader issues involving the First Amendment “will be deliberated at a later date.”
The decision means that Acosta will have his access to the White House grounds restored, at least for now. Kelly left open the possibility that the White House could revoke Acosta’s credential again if it provided due process.
In a statement later Friday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the Trump administration will restore Acosta’s press pass.
“Today, the court made clear that there is no absolute First Amendment right to access the White House. In response to the court, we will temporarily reinstate the reporter’s hard pass. We will also further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future. There must be decorum at the White House.”
(Photo by Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty.)
