CNN takes legal action against President Donald Trump
Network says the removal of reporter Jim Acosta’s press credentials is unconstitutional
CNN has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and senior aides over the suspension of a journalist’s press credentials.
The network’s chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta, had his pass taken away after a heated exchange with the president during a press conference last week.
Justifying the move, the Trump administration falsely claimed that Acosta had placed his hands on a White House intern who had tried to take his microphone away, the New York Times reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, made the accusation on social media, sharing a video that had been doctored to make Acosta’s actions towards an intern appear more aggressive.
In court documents filed by CNN yesterday, the network claims that the White House violated the reporter’s constitutional rights by revoking his press pass.
“This severe and unprecedented punishment is the culmination of years of hostility by President Trump against CNN and Acosta based on the contents of their reporting,” read the complaint.
The cable news giant went on to describe the decision as an “unabashed attempt to censor the press and exclude reporters from the White House who challenge and dispute the president’s point of view”.
The lawsuit marks “a dramatic turn in the president’s years-long battle with the press that sets up a court fight over the First Amendment,” Politico reports.
Press secretary Sanders has dismissed the claim as “more grandstanding from CNN” and vowed that the administration will “vigorously defend against this lawsuit.”
She added that Acosta had not behaved appropriately or professionally, and accused him of refusing to yield the microphone to other reporters.
However, the NYT says Sanders made no mention of her original claim that Acosta had reacted inappropriately with the intern.
One of the country’s leading first amendment lawyers, Floyd Abrams, says CNN’s litigation is well supported by first amendment principles, The Guardian reports.
“A journalist may not be stripped of access because of distaste for his questions, a desire to retaliate against him for prior coverage or frustration at what the president may view as a hostile attitude,” he told the newspaper.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 3, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - presidential pitching, wavering convictions, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
What might a Trump victory mean for the global economy?
Today's Big Question A second term in office for the 'America First' administration would send shockwaves far beyond the United States' shores
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Women take center stage in campaign finale
Speed Read Harris and Trump are trading gender attacks in the final days before the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How GOP election denial thrives in 2024
In the Spotlight Cleta Mitchell aided Donald Trump's efforts in 2020. She's back.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Life in the post-truth era
Opinion The mainstream media can't hold back a tsunami of misinformation
By Theunis Bates Published
-
'Shale is crucial to the US economy'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published