WH Warns Acosta They’ll Strip Press Pass Again Once Restraining Order Expires

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 16: CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta (L) returns to the White House with CNN Washington bureau chief Sam Feist after Federal judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered the White House to r... WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 16: CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta (L) returns to the White House with CNN Washington bureau chief Sam Feist after Federal judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered the White House to reinstate his press pass November 16, 2018 in Washington, DC. CNN has filed a lawsuit against the White House after Acosta's press pass was revoked after a dispute involving a news conference last week. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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After winning a temporary restraining order against the White House, forcing the administration to reinstate CNN’s Jim Acosta’s press credentials for two weeks, Acosta’s victory may be short-lived.

According to CNN, the White House sent Acosta a letter over the weekend warning the correspondent that his press pass would be suspended again after the restraining order expires.

CNN responded with a court filing and a statement on Sunday, condemning the White House for “continuing to violate the First and 5th Amendments of the Constitution.”

“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 said, according to the network’s Brian Stelter.

CNN filed a request for a status report on the restraining order and an emergency briefing, asking the court to yet-again intervene on the matter over White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ and Communications Director Bill Shine’s letter to Acosta. The letter indicated the White House had made the “preliminary decision” to suspend Acosta’s hard pass — more longterm than a daily press pass — despite the judge’s order.

On Friday, a judge issued a restraining order, requiring the White House to return Acosta’s press credentials “immediately.” A lawsuit that CNN brought against the White House over the whole ordeal is continuing.

Acosta’s press credentials were revoked after he and President Trump verbally sparred at a press conference this month. The White House initially claimed that Acosta had laid his hands on an intern who tried to take the microphone away from him while Trump attempted to move onto the next questioner. Acosta pulled the microphone away from the intern so he could continue speaking.

Read the CNN filing and the White House letter to Acosta, which is attached to the filing, below:

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