CNN's Jim Acosta can't sue Sarah Huckabee Sanders for defamation, despite doctored video, false accusation

A video analysis of video posted by the White House
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/AP)

On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the White House had revoked the press pass of CNN's Jim Acosta, accusing him of "placing his hands on a young woman" intern who tried to take his microphone during a contentions back-and-forth earlier in the day. That night, Sanders affirmed the decision to bar Acosta, posted a video of the incident, and said "we will not tolerate the inappropriate behavior clearly documented in this video."

The thing is, Acosta did not accost the intern, and the video Sanders posted to defend the White House decision was pretty clearly doctored. If anything, it's the intern who was inappropriately aggressive. "Nevertheless, Acosta's press pass was revoked, underscoring the false implication that Acosta had assaulted a defenseless staffer," Variety notes. "So can Acosta sue for defamation? The answer is no. As a federal official, Sanders is immune from defamation claims that arise from her professional duties under the Federal Tort Claims Act," a 1940s law that Congress amended in 1988 to shield federal officials.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.