We are all in this together. At least that’s the thinking of broadcast journalists when it comes to defending the First Amendment.
Fox News, typically called “Trump TV” because of its influence with the president, surprised everyone today and joined a number of media outlets in announcing that they would back rival CNN’s lawsuit against the Trump administration.
Fox News President Jay Wallace said in a statement that the network intends to file an amicus brief with a U.S. District Court in the lawsuit.
CNN filed suit against the White House on Tuesday seeking the return of correspondent Jim Acosta’s press credentials, which were revoked last week after a testy exchange with Trump during a press conference.
“FOX News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporter’s press credential. We intend to file an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court. Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized,” Wallace said. “While we don’t condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people.”
NBC News, The Associated Press, Bloomberg, Gannett, The New York Times, Politico, USA Today, The Washington Post and other outlets also plan to file briefs supporting CNN’s lawsuit
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“Whether the news of the day concerns national security, the economy, or the environment, reporters covering the White House must remain free to ask questions,” the news outlets said in a joint statement released by networks. “It is imperative that independent journalists have access to the President and his activities, and that journalists are not barred for arbitrary reasons. Our news organizations support the fundamental constitutional right to question this President, or any President.”
CNN has argued that the Trump administration violated Acosta’s First and Fifth Amendment rights of free speech and due process.
The case was assigned to Judge Timothy J. Kelly, a Trump appointee.
The first hearing ended late this afternoon, with the judge saying that he would rule on Thursday.
The White House dismissed CNN’s lawsuit on Tuesday, accusing the network of “grandstanding.”
Kelly heard arguments over the proposed temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction from Theodore Boutrous, an attorney representing CNN, and Justice Department attorney James Burnham.
The judge began by probing CNN’s arguments for the better part of an hour. Then he questioned Burnham and heard rebuttals from Boutrous. The hearing lasted for nearly two hours, with Kelly scrutinizing both sides, drilling down especially deep on some of CNN’s arguments.