Trump Administration Stands Behind Jim Acosta Suspension, Fox News Supports CNN | THR News - video Dailymotion

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In advance of a hearing this afternoon, the Trump Administration is standing behind its decision to strip CNN reporter Jim Acosta of the hard badge that allows him regular access to the White House.

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00:00The Trump administration is standing behind its decision to strip CNN reporter Jim Acosta

00:04of the hard badge that allows him regular access to the White House.

00:08On Tuesday, CNN sued President Donald Trump, along with Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee-Sanders

00:12and General John Kelly, among others, alleging that the suspension of Acosta's press pass

00:17violates the First and Fifth Amendments.

00:20Meanwhile, the government has filed court papers in opposition to Acosta's bid to have his

00:23badge restored.

00:24In its complaint, CNN recounts what happened at last Wednesday's press conference when

00:28Acosta repeatedly asked questions, much to Trump's chagrin. The reporter subsequently had his

00:33badge revoked in what longtime White House correspondents say was an unprecedented move.

00:39The initial explanation from the White House was that Acosta's badge was revoked because he

00:42was being disrespectful, but more recently, Trump's staff indicated it wouldn't tolerate how

00:47he continued to ask questions, even upon the demand that he give up the microphone.

00:52However, CNN isn't convinced, telling a judge in the complaint that the punishment is

00:56the culmination of years of hostility by President Trump against CNN and Acosta, based on the

01:01contents of their reporting, an unabashed attempt to censor the press and exclude reporters from

01:05the White House who challenge and dispute the President's point of view.

01:10The White House is pushing back on this claim, with a brief filed by the Trump administration

01:13reading, in part,

01:15Acosta argues that the hard pass suspension puts his livelihood as a professional reporter

01:20at stake, while Trump's legal team downplays the harm.

01:26The case has been assigned to U.S.

01:27District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, a Trump appointee, who will hear CNN's motion for a temporary

01:32restraining order this afternoon.

01:33Should Judge Kelly grant the TRO and restore Acosta's badge, the defendants say it would be an

01:39unprecedented and extraordinarily intrusive order that would require the President and Secret Service

01:45to grant on-demand access to the White House complex,

01:47and to the White House complex.

01:48Acosta argues that the hard pass suspension puts his livelihood as a professional reporter

01:51at stake, while Trump's legal team downplays the harm.

01:54The case has been assigned to U.S.

01:55District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, a Trump appointee, who will hear CNN's motion for a temporary

01:58restraining order this afternoon.

01:59Should Judge Kelly grant the TRO and restore Acosta's badge, the defendants say it would be an

02:02extraordinarily intrusive order that would require the President and Secret Service to grant on-demand

02:07access to the White House complex, West Wing press offices, and other facilities in the

02:12President's official residence and personal office suite to someone he has decided to exclude.

02:16Meanwhile, rival network Fox News will file an amicus brief in support of CNN's lawsuit

02:21against the White House, with network President Jay Wallace saying in a statement,

02:25Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized.

02:30While we don't condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press,

02:34recent media reveals we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people.

02:40To read more on this ongoing story, head to THR.com.

02:43For The Hollywood Reporter News, I'm Lyndsey Rodrigues.

Trump Administration Stands Behind Jim Acosta Suspension, Fox News Supports CNN | THR News

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