White House press secretary Sarah Sanders fired back at CNN for “more grandstanding” as the network filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for suspending Jim Acosta’s press credentials.
CNN filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday against President Donald Trump and several White House aides after the Chief White House correspondent’s “hard pass” was temporarily suspended, The Daily Caller reported.
The White House decision came after a contentious exchange between Acosta and the president at a press conference last week as the reporter refused to relinquish the microphone after Trump had answered his questions and even wrangled with a White House intern momentarily as she tried to get the mic away from him.
Sanders dismissed the lawsuit as “just more grandstanding from CNN,” and vowed to “vigorously defend” against it.
“This is just more grandstanding from CNN, and we will vigorously defend against this lawsuit,” Sanders said Tuesday.
“CNN, who has nearly 50 additional hard pass holders, and Mr. Acosta is no more or less special than any other media outlet or reporter with respect to the First Amendment,” she added. “After Mr. Acosta asked the President two questions—each of which the President answered—he physically refused to surrender a White House microphone to an intern, so that other reporters might ask their questions. This was not the first time this reporter has inappropriately refused to yield to other reporters.”
White House now saying @Acosta “physically refused to surrender a White House microphone to an intern, so that other reporters might ask their questions.” pic.twitter.com/2SaDfaoR63
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) November 13, 2018
“The White House cannot run an orderly and fair press conference when a reporter acts this way, which is neither appropriate nor professional,” Sanders said. “The First Amendment is not served when a single reporter, of more than 150 present, attempts to monopolize the floor. If there is no check on this type of behavior it impedes the ability of the President, the White House staff, and members of the media to conduct business.”
The statement notably did not mention the alleged physical contact between Acosta and the White House intern, which was previously suggested but denied by Acosta.
Raging battle ignites over dueling videos as Acosta DENIES inappropriately touching WH intern https://t.co/wys6fitYuJ pic.twitter.com/Pxrtm34jmW
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) November 8, 2018
CNN’s lawsuit claimed the White House violated Acosta’s constitutional rights protecting press freedom and due process as the complaint to DC District Court was made public.
Politico’s Jason Schwartz highlighted a portion of the filings pointing to Acosta’s encounter with the intern.
Shoutout if you had a Daily Caller reporter being cited in a lawsuit to defend Jim Acosta and CNN pic.twitter.com/2L4BZaD77n
— Jason Schwartz (@JasonSchwartz) November 13, 2018
The lawsuit also included comments by White House counselor Kellyanne Conway who told Fox News’ Chris Wallace that the video of the incident was not “altered” but was “sped up.”
Kellyanne Conway’s surprising admission that the video Sanders posted was sped up makes it into CNN’s lawsuit pic.twitter.com/Qqx0EaOqOJ
— Jason Schwartz (@JasonSchwartz) November 13, 2018
The Washington Post‘s Erik Wemple pointed out the part of the lawsuit that included Acosta’s take on what happened.
And in this passage of his declaration, @acosta sheds light on how he viewed the attempt by a White House intern to grab the mic at last week’s press conference. pic.twitter.com/RNYDJSndAU
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) November 13, 2018
Naturally, the CNN reporter did not see his rude behavior and disrespect for the president and his media colleagues as the root of the problem, but blamed Trump for his “dissatisfaction” with Acosta’s line of questioning.
And here, @acosta riffs about White House motives in stripping him of his hard pass. pic.twitter.com/HlswYo8pbD
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) November 13, 2018
Acosta also contends that Trump’s criticism of the press – and his network in particular – have affected him on a personal level.
In his declaration in support of CNN’s suit against White House officials, @acosta claims that @realDonaldTrump rhetoric has had a direct impact on his life. pic.twitter.com/YEUvNKtLb9
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) November 13, 2018
For Trump’s visit to France, Acosta was not issued even a daily press pass but he was credentialed by France.
For @realdonaldtrump visit to France, @acosta was denied access by White House but granted but duly credentialed by France, prompting CNN Wash Buro Chief Sam Feist to comment: pic.twitter.com/YQlF70bwuM
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) November 13, 2018
There was also some speculation about whether the press pass was only suspended temporarily or for good.
Some have suggested @Acosta losing his hard pass wasn’t a big deal bc he could get daily passes. White House refused to answer Q’s from several reporters about whether it would issue. Answer was no. pic.twitter.com/Z4D1vANRzQ
— Jason Schwartz (@JasonSchwartz) November 13, 2018
Also: CNN Wash buro chief @SamFeistCNN writes in his declaration that it’s his understanding that White House officials have ‘communicated that they currently do not plan ever’ to reinstate hard pass of @acosta.
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) November 13, 2018
The White House Correspondents’ Association supported CNN’s lawsuit.
MORE: White House Correspondents’ Association “strongly supports CNN’s goal of seeing their correspondent regain a US Secret Service security credential that the White House should not have taken away in the first place,” WHCA president says. https://t.co/3zks8kB20A pic.twitter.com/SiuHwu82FS
— ABC News (@ABC) November 13, 2018
“The president of the United States should not be in the business of arbitrarily picking the men and women who cover him,” the Association’s president, Oliver Knox, said.
New York Times media columnist Jim Rutenberg, who wrote about the press contemplating a boycott of White House press briefings, admitted that Acosta “is a somewhat polarizing figure, viewed by some of his press corps colleagues as a showboat.”
CNN has asked the court for an injunction to immediately reinstate Acosta, and has requested a hearing on the issue of the administration banning reporters.
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