Former ABC White House reporter Sam Donaldson appeared on CNN with some interesting news. The journalist said that the network and its chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta, were planning to act. Then, he added that Trump’s decision to revoke Acosta’s credentials “is not only wrong and unfair, it’s dangerous for the press as a whole.”
Donaldson said that he had been asked to prepare an affidavit to support a lawsuit. CNN and Acosta are suing the Trump administration for revoking the journalist’s press credentials. The White House asked Acosta to turn in his Secret Service “hard pass.” That meant he would not only be refused quick access and exit to and from the White House, he could not even come onto the grounds.
It all started when the president held a large, extended press conference. Then, POTUS called on Acosta and instigated a heated dialogue with the journalist. Then, the president called him a “rude, terrible person,” CNN reported.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a doctored video that showed an intern trying to take Acosta’s microphone away from him, then him violently yanking it back. According to USA Today, she said:
‘President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his Administration. We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern.’
Originally, the administration said that Acosta touched the intern. Sanders called it “inappropriate behavior.” Yet, CNN said that her explanation was not accurate:
‘She provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened.’
CNN’s Reliable Sources other guest was a constitutional law expert with frequent appearances before the Supreme Court, Floyd Abrams. He told the show’s host that he believed that the network does have a case. Abrams also said that claiming that Trump’s action of kicking Acosta out:
‘I think it’s a really strong lawsuit. I can understand CNN being reluctant to sue because the president keeps saying CNN is the enemy of me, and CNN might have reluctance to have a lawsuit titled CNN vs. Donald Trump. That said, yes, I think they should sue.’
Abrams noted that Trump has set a “dangerous precedent” by ousting Acosta:
‘This is going to happen again. It’s likely to happen again. So whether it’s CNN suing or the next company suing, someone is going to have to bring a lawsuit. And whoever does is going to win unless there’s some sort of reason.”
In a statement, CNN wrote:
‘No decisions have been made. We have reached out to the White House and gotten no response.’
Abrams said:
‘(If Acosta) choked or touched this women — that’s a very good reason (to revoke his pass but,) it seems to be untrue.’
Actual video of the incident proved that the journalist did not hurt the intern. In fact, the video made Acosta’s statement to the intern audible. He said:
‘Pardon me, ma’am.’
CNN had earlier claimed that Trump’s revoking Acosta’s credentials:
‘…Was done in retaliation for his challenging questions.’
Featured image is a screenshot via YouTube.
