ALERT: US – RSF supports CNN, Jim Acosta lawsuit against White House
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) supports CNN’s decision to sue the Trump administration for revoking Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta’s press credentials, and is encouraged by the number of journalism organizations that have filed amicus briefs in support of the lawsuit.
“Democracy relies on the ability of a free press to report on all branches of the government, regardless of whether those in power like the questions or the reporter asking those questions,”said Margaux Ewen, Director of RSF’s North America bureau. “Since this case has such broad implications beyond CNN and Jim Acosta, it is encouraging to see so many journalism organizations file amicus briefs in support of the lawsuit. RSF joins them in calling for the immediate return of Jim Acosta’s press credentials.”
CNN filed a lawsuit in the US District Court in Washington, DC against the Trump administration on November 13 for revoking Acosta’s press credentials the week before. In the suit, CNNaccuses the administration of violating Acosta’s First and Fifth Amendment rights to free speech and due process of law. Since then, multiple news organizations—including FOX News, NBC News, The Associated Press, Bloomberg, Gannett, The New York Times, Politico, USA Today, and The Washington Post—have filed amicus briefs in support of this lawsuit. CNN has requested a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that would immediately return Acosta’s credentials. The judge could potentially rule on this request during a hearing this afternoon.
The United States ranks 45th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2018 World Press Freedom Indexafter falling 2 places in the last year.
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