A federal judge delivered a blow to the White House in a lawsuit filed by CNN over a revoked press pass for reporter Jim Acosta.
Judge Timothy Kelly found Friday morning that the U.S. government must give Acosta due process before revoking his press pass — which he ordered must be reinstated.
"I will order defendants immediately restore Mr. Acosta's hard pass." Judge rules in favor of CNN in this initial proceeding and White House MUST restore @Acosta press pass IMMEDIATELY.
— Jessica Schneider (@SchneiderCNN) November 16, 2018
The judge said the White House’s written arguments for banning the reporter were “hardly sufficient to satisfy” Acosta’s Fifth Amendment right to due process.
He noted that Sarah Huckabee Sanders offered two differing justifications for revoking the “hard pass” credentials from Acosta.
Kelly agreed with the White House that there was no First Amendment right to access the press briefing room, and he said Sanders and President Donald Trump were under no obligation to call on him.
The judge said the White House did not provide due process to Acosta, and he said the process was “so shrouded in mystery that the government could not tell me … who made the decision.”
Judge is explaining that the White House did not provide due process. He describes the process as “so shrouded in mystery that the government could not tell me…. who made the decision."
— Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) November 16, 2018
