Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer predicted that CNN’s lawsuit against the Trump administration will “backfire” because its correspondent, Jim Acosta, has “pushed the envelope” of acceptable behavior by a reporter.
“Tension in the briefing room is natural and inevitable, but Acosta has pushed the envelope beyond what any reporter I’ve ever known has done,” Fleischer, who worked under former president George W. Bush, remarked Tuesday on Twitter. “I think CNN’s suit is a bad move that will backfire. Acosta Hill is the wrong one to die on.”
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Fleischer said the conflict could be settled if CNN would “tell Acosta to stop taking stands and to simply ask questions” and that the White House could agree to give Acosta his credential back “so long as he agrees to stop his editorial act.”
If I were in charge of CNN, I’d tell Acosta to stop taking stands and to simply ask questions. If i were in charge at the WH, I’d let some time pass and let Acosta back in, so long as he agrees to stop his editorial act.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) November 13, 2018
CNN said Tuesday that it is suing the Trump administration for violating the First Amendment when the White House suspended correspondent Jim Acosta’s press pass, which allow him to report on site at the White House.
“This morning, CNN filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in DC District Court,” CNN’s top executive, Jeff Zucker, said in a statement. “The White House has violated CNN and Jim Acosta’s First Amendment rights of freedom of the press and Fifth Amendment rights to due process. We are demanding the immediate return of Jim’s White House credential.”
The lawsuit names a Secret Service agent “John Doe” as a defendant for allegedly having blocked Acosta’s access to the White House grounds.
In a statement, the White House said it would “vigorously defend” against the lawsuit from “grandstanding” CNN.
The White House said last week that it was indefinitely suspending Acosta’s credentials after a heated exchange between him and President Trump at a press conference. After Acosta was called on to ask a question, Trump attempted to move on to another reporter, but Acosta initially refused to relinquish the microphone to a White House intern.
Sanders claimed that the suspension of Acosta’s credentials was because they would not tolerate him “placing his hands on” the intern.
“This is not a step we have taken lightly,” Zucker said. “But the White House action is unprecedented.”
