News networks files lawsuit over banning of Jim Acosta
CNN is suing President Donald Trump after an aggressive reporter was banned from the White House following a hostile exchange during a press conference.
The president berated political correspondent Jim Acosta during a post-midterms briefing last week, after which the journalist was accused of assaulting an intern who attempted to relieve him of the microphone.
Acosta scuffled with a female intern who attempted to take the microphone back from him.
“President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration. We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern,” White House Press Secretary Sarah announced in a statement at the time.
“This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporter’s colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question.
“President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history.
“Contrary to CNN’s assertions, there is no greater demonstration of the President’s support for a free press than the event he held today.
“Only they would attack the President for not being supportive of a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters throughout an hour and a half – including several from the reporter in question.
“The fact that CNN is proud of the way their employee behaved is not only disgusting, but it is also an example of their outrageous disregard for everyone, including young women, who work in this Administration.
“As a result of today’s incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice.”
[embedded content]
The confrontational exchange occurred while the President was giving a press conference on the results of the midterm election.
Acosta, who is known for confrontations, began to challenge Trump on calling the caravan an “invasion.”
“As you know, Mr. President, the caravan was not an invasion.
“It’s a group of migrants moving up from Central America towards the border with the U.S.
“Why did you characterize it as such?” he asked.
“Because I consider it an invasion. You and I have a difference of opinion,” Trump responded.
Acosta then asked Trump “demonized immigrants” in the midterm election.
Trump responded: “I want them to come into the country, but they have to come in legally.
“You know, they have to come in, Jim, through a process.
“I want it to be a process. And I want people to come in. And we need the people.”
Acosta then asserted that migrants in the caravan would not be climbing over walls and they were “hundreds and hundreds of miles away.”
“That’s not an invasion,” he told Trump.
Trump replied, “Honestly, I think you should let me run the country, you run CNN — and if you did it well, your ratings would be much better.”