CNN Seen as Likely To Prevail in White House Fight

By Jason Schwartz, politico.com, 11-13-18

President Donald Trump and press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders often have the upper hand over CNN in the White House briefing room.  But CNN has likely now claimed the advantage by moving the battle to the courtroom.

First Amendment lawyers say courts have a history of defending access for journalists, and the White House’s shifting justifications won’t help it in the coming legal fight over the decision to revoke correspondent Jim Acosta’s press pass last week.  CNN and Acosta filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to have his credentials restored, and a judge has scheduled the first hearing for Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s a serious claim,” said Floyd Abrams, the renowned First Amendment lawyer who represented The New York Times in the Pentagon Papers case.  “I can’t think of anything that is likely to lead to a victory for the White House.”  » Read More