CNN sues Donald Trump for suspending reporter’s press pass

CNN is filing a lawsuit against the President after a “doctored” video drama ended with a reporter losing his press pass. 

CNN is suing Donald Trump and several White House aides after one of the network’s reporters dramatically clashed with the President and had his press pass suspended.

The lawsuit alleges that Jim Acosta and CNN’s rights are being violated by the ban.

A spokeswoman for the network confirmed the suit was being filed in US District Court in Washington, DC on Tuesday morning.

Acosta was denied entry to the White House grounds last Wednesday after a sensational confrontation with Mr Trump at a news conference following the elections. 

The President called the reporter “a rude, terrible person” as he refused to answer his questions.

The defendants are Mr Trump, chief of staff John Kelly, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, deputy chief of staff for communications Bill Shine, Secret Service director Joseph Clancy, and an unidentified Secret Service officer who took Acosta’s pass away last Wednesday.

CNN filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration this morning in DC District Court, the network said in a statement.

It demands the return of the White House credentials of CNN’s Chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta.

The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acosta’s First Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their Fifth Amendment rights to due process. We have asked this court for an immediate restraining order requiring the pass be returned to Jim, and will seek permanent relief as part of this process.

Acosta was denied entry to the White House grounds following the heated press conference last Wednesday, after Ms Sanders said he had behaved inappropriately when an intern tried to take away his microphone.

She said his press credentials were revoked because the White House will “never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern”.