New Delhi: A US judge on Friday temporarily restored White House press credentials to CNN correspondent Jim Acosta, which were revoked following a contentious press conference with President Donald Trump, saying there should be a due process in place for limiting a journalist’s access to the White House.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly, who is hearing CNN’s lawsuit challenging to the revocation, ordered the White House to restore Acosta’s press pass while the case is pending.
“Let’s go back to work,” Acosta said to reporters after the hearing.
In a statement, CNN said, “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.”
“This result means that Acosta will have his access to the White House restored for at least a short period of time. The judge said while explaining his decision that he believes that CNN and Acosta are likely to prevail in the case overall,” CNN said.
“This is a great day for the First Amendment and journalism,” Ted Boutrous, an outside attorney representing CNN, said.
In its lawsuit filed this week, the cable news network had said the White House violated the First Amendment right to free speech as well as the due process clause of the constitution providing fair treatment through judicial process. The network asked for a temporary restraining order.
“While the suit is specific to CNN and Acosta, this could have happened to anyone,” CNN said in a statement. “If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials.”
Also read: If CNN Can Stand up to Trump, Why Can’t Indian Media Question the Powers That Be?
In recent times, Trump has intensified his criticism of the reporters who cover him, making personal jabs in response to questions he does not like, including those about Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of whether his campaign worked with Russia to sway the 2016 presidential election. Trump denies any collusion took place.
CNN, and Acosta in particular, have been regular targets of the president.
The day after the November 6 congressional elections, Trump erupted into anger during a news conference when Acosta questioned him about the Russia probe and a migrant caravan travelling through Mexico.
“That’s enough, that’s enough,” Trump told Acosta last Wednesday, as a White House intern attempted to take the microphone away from the correspondent. “You are a rude, terrible person.”
“The White House cannot be permitted to cast out and punish reporters with whom it disagrees,”CNN said in its court filing.
(With inputs from Reuters)