Update: Fox News’ chief White House correspondent John Roberts reported Monday afternoon that the White House would not be seeking the revocation of CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s hard pass, citing unnamed sources. Shortly after that report, CNN’s communications team announced that the lawsuit it lodged was “no longer necessary,” as the White House had fully restored Acosta’s press pass.
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CNN’s Jim Acosta is facing the revocation of his press pass at the end of this month, The Washington Post and other outlets reported on Monday morning.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders and Bill Shine, the deputy chief of staff for communications, sent Acosta a notice of pending revocation on Friday.
That occurred just hours after U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly granted a 14-day restraining order that resulted in the temporary reinstatement of Acosta’s hard pass.
Related: CBS’ Major Garrett Rebukes CNN’s Jim Acosta for His Conduct
“We are writing to give you formal written notice that we have made a preliminary decision to suspend your hard pass due to your conduct at the President’s November 7, 2018 press conference,” a letter from the White House to Acosta dated November 16 reads.
The letter notes that Acosta can contest the preliminary decision — which he and CNN have done — and that a final determination will be issued in writing by 3 p.m. on Monday.
The judge’s decision temporarily reinstating Acosta’s pass was based in large part on Fifth Amendment grounds — that its revocation denied the reporter due process.
The letter from Sanders and Shine, along with CNN’s response, were part of a court filing by the network in which it requested an emergency hearing for an extension of the stay Kelly granted last week.
“The @WhiteHouse is continuing to violate the First and 5th Amendments of the Constitution,” CNN said in a tweet.
“These actions threaten all journalists and news organizations. Jim Acosta and CNN will continue to report the news about the White House and @realDonaldTrump,” the network added.
The @WhiteHouse is continuing to violate the First and Fifth amendments of the Constitution. These actions threaten all journalists and news organizations. @Acosta and CNN will continue to report the news about the White House and @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/knr1NpyMVv
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) November 19, 2018
Though CNN had won round one with Judge Kelly’s initial decision, the White House has come out swinging in round two, which may well result in a knock-out punch for embattled reporter Jim Acosta.
In an interview that aired on “Fox News Sunday,” President Donald Trump may have subtly telegraphed the move.
In it, he characterized Kelly’s ruling as “not a big deal” and added that the White House was in the process of “creating rules and regulations for conduct.”
The president also criticized Acosta’s “unbelievably rude” behavior toward Sanders and said if Acosta “misbehaves, we’ll throw him out or we’ll stop the news conference.”
While the judge’s decision on CNN’s request for an emergency hearing to extend the restraining order is not yet known, one aspect of this situation seems crystal clear.
The White House is not throwing in the towel — and if CNN’s Jim Acosta goes down, he will go down fighting.
@Acosta banned from the White House? That’s the best news ever for a Monday! Ever!!
— Ben Caulfield (@BenCaulfield7) November 19, 2018
This is again shows why there's dozens of WH reporters who are able to be extremely tough on Trump and not act like Jim @Acosta https://t.co/yf2jH4Dboc
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 19, 2018
Remember folks this has nothing to do with @Acosta asking @realDonaldTrump crazy questions.. This is all about #Acosta disrespect and abuse, not for #Trump but the WH Press forum. He should be ousted.
— Mark (@BeHeardAmerican) November 19, 2018
Fight over Jim Acosta's White House press pass seems far from over https://t.co/2sEWkeTodS pic.twitter.com/TVPrepC0ZL
— New York Post (@nypost) November 19, 2018
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This article has been updated.
Michele Blood is a Flemington, New Jersey-based freelance writer and regular contributor to LifeZette.
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