White House Restores Acosta's Pass, With a Caveat

It can be revoked again, Trump administration warns
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 19, 2018 3:53 PM CST
White House Restores Acosta's Press Pass
CNN's Jim Acosta speaks to journalists on the North Lawn upon returning back to the White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

The Trump administration said Monday that it will fully restore CNN reporter Jim Acosta's White House credentials, but warned that he must follow a series of rules at future press conferences, the AP reports. White House officials Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Bill Shine sent Acosta a letter explaining his status. His press pass had been revoked after a dust-up at a press conference with President Trump. On Twitter, CNN declared victory, saying: "Today the @WhiteHouse fully restored @Acosta's press pass. As a result, our lawsuit is no longer necessary. We look forward to continuing to cover the White House." It was an abrupt about-face for the Trump administration, which said Friday that despite a judge's injunction allowing Acosta back into the White House, it would seek to bar him again in two weeks.

The White House's letter made clear his credentials could be threatened again. The officials said that at future press conferences, each reporter would be limited to a single question, with follow-up questions permitted at the discretion of the president or staff. It adds that "'Yielding the floor' includes ... physically surrendering the microphone to White House staff." The letter said failure to abide by the rules "may result in suspension or revocation of the journalist's hard pass." There had been much controversy over a possibly-doctored video the White House distributed showing Acosta's resistance to giving up his mic. Trump said last week that the White House was writing up "rules and regulations" regarding "decorum" for reporters. (Even Fox News sided with CNN on this issue.)

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