White House, CNN wait to hear ruling on ban of CNN reporter
WASHINGTON — The White House and CNN waited Thursday to hear whether a federal judge would order the Trump administration to return the White House press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta.
U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, was expected to issue a ruling after hearing arguments Wednesday from lawyers representing CNN and the Justice Department. The news network is seeking an immediate restraining order that would force the White House to hand back Acosta’s credentials, which grant reporters as-needed access to the 18-acre complex.
Acosta has clashed repeatedly with Trump and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in briefings over the last two years. But the dynamic devolved into a near-shouting match during a combative press conference last week following midterm elections in which Republicans lost control of the House.
Acosta refused to give up a microphone when the president said he didn’t want to hear anything more from him. Trump called Acosta a “rude, terrible person.”