by Hanna Bogorowski
After receiving a letter from the White House saying CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s press pass could be revoked again by the end of November, CNN has asked the U.S. District Court for an emergency hearing.
CNN won a temporary restraining order Friday after suing President Donald Trump and several members of his administration after they suspended Acosta’s access to the White House after an incident in which the reporter refused to hand over the microphone to an intern during a press conference.
A judge temporarily restored Acosta’s access Friday and told CNN and the administration to reach a settlement, but CNN’s Brian Stelter revealed Sunday night that “White House officials sent Acosta a letter stating that his pass is set to be suspended again once the restraining order expires.”
The letter, signed by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Bill Shine, announced the “preliminary decision” to suspend Acosta’s press pass again once the court’s restraining order expired, CNN reported.
CNN asked a U.S. district court Monday for an emergency hearing. The White House’s letter reportedly says it will make a decision on the fate of Acosta’s press pass by 3 p.m. ET on Monday, the report states.
.@CNN's Jim @Acosta returns to the White House after his press pass was temporarily reinstated after a federal judge ordered it's return by the White House. pic.twitter.com/zk8ICIw98w
— CSPAN (@cspan) November 16, 2018
“The White House is continuing to violate the First and 5th Amendments of the Constitution,” CNN wrote in a Sunday statement. “These actions threaten all journalists and news organizations. Jim Acosta and CNN will continue to report the news about the White House and the President.”
CNN’s lawyers said in Monday’s court filing that they and Acosta “remain hopeful” that the parties involved “can resolve this dispute without further court intervention.”
The lawyers also said the White House’s letter is an “attempt to provide retroactive due process,” according to the CNN report.
Acosta and his network are seeking a hearing for the week of November 26.
– – –
Hanna Bogorowski is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation. Follow Hanna on Twitter
