US Administration defends action against CNN scribe
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Washington: President Donald Trump’s administration is trying to fend off a legal challenge from CNN and other outlets over the revocation of journalist Jim Acosta’s White House “hard pass”, Associated Press reported.
U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly heard arguments on Wednesday afternoon from lawyers representing CNN and the Justice Department. CNN is seeking an immediate restraining order that would force the White House to return Mr. Acosta’s press credentials.
AP joined with a group of 12 other news organisations, including Fox News, in filing an amicus brief Wednesday in support of CNN.
On Wednesday, Justice Department lawyer James Burnham argued that Mr. Acosta deserved to lose his access over “his refusal to comply with the general standards of a press conference”. CNN’s lawyer, Theodore Boutrous, contended that Mr. Acosta was being singled out for his body of work, not his alleged rudeness during a press conference.
