In yet another blow to the Trump administration, on Friday a federal judge ordered that the White House reinstate the press badge of CNN’s Jim Acosta. In a heated post-midterms presser last week, President Donald Trump butted heads with Acosta over questions about the migrant caravan and Mueller probe that resulted in one of the most baffling moments of his presidency thus far.
“You are a rude, terrible person, you shouldn’t be working for CNN,” Trump literally told a member of the free press. Later that day, Acosta was banned reentry to the White House on grounds that he supposedly put his hands on the aide trying to wrestle the mic away from him; a claim White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders backed up using clearly doctored video evidence.
Federal judge Timothy J. Kelly, who was appointed by Trump, granted a request to temporarily reverse Acosta’s suspension until a decision can be reached in the ongoing case between CNN and the White House. The cable news network brought the lawsuit against Trump and his top aides earlier this week, claiming that the White House had violated both CNN and Acosta’s First and Fifth Amendment rights in issuing the suspension.
Kelly’s ruling was made not on the First Amendment, but the Fifth Amendment in that Acosta had not been presented with the due process which is legally required to revoke his pass. Furthermore, it seems no one in the White House can even seem to come up with a solid reason for the suspension — which the judge described as “shrouded in mystery.”
He left open the possibility, however, that the White House could seek to revoke it again if it provided that due process, emphasizing the “very limited” nature of his ruling and saying he was not making a judgment on the First Amendment claims that CNN and Acosta have made.
Kelly separately said that White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders’ initial claim that Acosta had inappropriately touched the White House intern who was attempting to take the microphone from him at the news conference was “likely untrue” and “partly based on evidence of questionable accuracy.”
CNN released a statement shortly after Friday’s ruling, issuing thanks to those who support a “free, strong and independent American press.”
Statement from CNN and @Acosta on today’s ruling: “We are gratified with this result and we look forward to a full resolution in the coming days. Our sincere thanks to all who have supported not just CNN, but a free, strong and independent American press.”
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) November 16, 2018
Indeed, it would appear that this is a small win for our increasingly fraught American democracy, and many took to Twitter to celebrate.
A victory for the First Amendment and a free and independent press. https://t.co/Fe3PU8Nqew
— Marty Baron (@PostBaron) November 16, 2018
A judge has restored @Acosta press credentials!
A win for the America we all know and love, the one we're all trying desperately to protect. Freedom of the press is essential and it's scary to see attempts to erode that in any way. https://t.co/A7NE1l4FTt
— Steve Westly (@SteveWestly) November 16, 2018
Trump-appointed judge gives CNN a victory, w interesting findings.
1) Press's 1st Amendmt rights don't end on WH grounds.
2) Decision to strip @acosta press pass is “so shrouded in mystery that the government could not tell me…. who made the decision.”https://t.co/OABM7kXwDj— Carol Leonnig (@CarolLeonnig) November 16, 2018
That first moment of realization that one is not above the law can be tough.
Sending thoughts and prayers to Trump and Sarah Sanders as they are forced to temporarily restore Jim Acosta’s White House credentials. https://t.co/NrGMrpjRu4
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) November 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/BC1a07/status/1063458102224269313
The GOP had an AWFUL week in federal court.
Judge Dabney Friedrich upheld a Mueller indictment, Judge Lance Walker denied a GOP rep's suit to block ranked voting in Maine, and Judge Tim Kelly ordered Trump to restore @Acosta's press pass.
All 3 judges were appointed by Trump.
— Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) November 16, 2018
Sarah Huckabee Sanders acknowledged the ruling in a statement and agreed to temporarily reinstate Acosta’s pass, but noted that the White House is planning to develop rules and processes to “ensure fair and orderly press conferences” in the future. “There must be decorum at the White House,” she added, which we can all take with an iceberg-sized grain of salt.
(Via CNN)