Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
CNN and Jim Acosta have filed a lawsuit against President Trump and several members of his staff, seeking a reinstatement of Acosta’s White House press pass that was revoked last week. Acosta was denied entry to the White House after he refused to relinquish a microphone during a press conference with Trump that same day. The suit alleges that Acosta and CNN’s First and Fifth Amendment rights were violated with the ban. CNN also cautioned that other news organizations could be similarly targeted by the Trump administration, “While the suit is specific to CNN and Acosta, this could have happened to anyone,” the network said. “If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials.” The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday morning.
Ted Boutros, a lawyer for CNN along with former Bush Solicitor General Ted Olson, went onto the news channel to explain the case’s argument: