White House Tells CNN They Will Continue Fight to Revoke Jim Acosta’s Press Credentials

“These actions threaten all journalists and news organizations,” CNN says in response

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The Trump administration says they have no intention to back down on plans to oust CNN’s Jim Acosta from the White House, telling the network in a letter that they would revoke his credentials again when a 14-day injunction from a federal judge expires.

The news was first reported in Brian Stelter’s Sunday evening “Reliable Sources” newsletter.

In a statement from CNN, the network said they would continue to fight.

“The White House is continuing to violate the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution. These actions threaten all journalists and news organizations. Jim Acosta and CNN will continue to report the news about the White House and the President,” a spokesperson told TheWrap on Monday.

On Friday, CNN won Round 1 with the White House after Judge Timothy Kelly — a Trump appointee —  restored Acosta’s credentials in a 14 day restraining order.

“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,” said CNN and Acosta in a joint statement at the time.

In her own statement, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said her side would comply with the order but promised a new set of “rules” to govern journalists behavior in the future.

“We will temporarily reinstate the reporter’s hard pass,” she said. “We will also further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future.”

It’s unclear what those rules might look like, a rep for the White House did not immediately respond to request for comment on the matter.

The legal fight between the White House and CNN was sparked earlier this month with a tussle between Trump and Acosta during a press briefing in the East Room. Trump’s ire was stirred after Acosta refused to backdown from aggressive questions about the migrant caravan.

“CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN,” the president said on Nov. 7 as Acosta stammered. “The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible. The way you treat other people are horrible. You shouldn’t treat people that way.”

By the end of the day, Acosta press credentials had been revoked.

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