CNN’s chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta got his “hard pass” access to the White House revoked. A federal lawsuit was filed to reinstate the press credentials of the grandstanding pseudo-journalist, and a judge has ruled that the White House must immediately restore his press pass. However, Sarah Sanders had a few things to say about the ruling, and Jim might think twice before he enters the White House.
Jim Acosta, who makes every story about himself and specializes in being a pest, took his antics to a new and unacceptable low last week. He peppered President Donald Trump with a series of stupid questions and refused to yield the floor to other reports at the White House.
Eventually, Trump told Acosta to sit down, something he refused, and a White House intern attempted to take a microphone away from him. Acosta pushed the female intern’s arm away and continued to monopolize the press briefing. This unprofessionalism earned Acosta a ban from the White House grounds.
CNN promptly filed a factually-challenged lawsuit, and a Trump-appointed judge has sided with the fake news network and their fake correspondent.
Fox News reports that U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly has issued a temporary injunction requiring the White House to restore Acosta’s hard pass, at least for the time being. The lawsuit still needs to be settled, but in the meantime, Acosta can get back in the press briefings and under the skin of the President and his staff.
Or maybe not. In reaction to the ruling, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says there’s going to be some new rules for idiotic reporter behavior.
“Today, the court made clear that there is no absolute First Amendment right to access the White House. In response to the court, we will temporarily reinstate the reporter’s hard pass. We will also further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future. There must be decorum at the White House,” said Sanders in a statement.
So the White House will now have a “Jim Acosta Rule,” governing reporter behavior? That’s hilarious and should stroke Jim Acosta’s massive ego. For a guy who needs everything to be about him, getting a rule named in his honor is exciting news. Of course, when Acosta inevitably violates his namesake rule, he will probably be less thrilled with it.
The temporary restoration of Acosta’s hard pass only lasts 14 days, while the lawsuit is considered. The smart money is on Acosta getting himself banned again before that time period is up. There is a press briefing later Friday, which Acosta is expected to attend and chances are he’ll be done before the end of the day.
Acosta treated this news as if he had won a major award. Outside of the US District Court, he actually gave an acceptance speech:
“I want to thank all of my colleagues in the press who supported us this week and I want to thank the judge for the decision he made today. Let’s go back to work,” said Acosta.
He forgot to thank the academy and all of the little people but, as has already been established, everything is about Jim.
CNN also took a victory lap, saying in a statement, “We are gratified with this result and we look forward to a full resolution in the coming days. Our sincere thanks to all who have supported not just CNN, but a free, strong and independent American press.”
This ruling doesn’t necessarily support Jim Acosta’s right to act like a jerk, but it does prove that whining works. Rather than take personal responsibility for his negative behavior, Acosta has shown that if you complain loud enough, you can get your way.
