Fox Network Supports CNN’s Fight to Reinstate Jim Acosta's White House Credentials
Despite being arch rivals and business competitors in the U.S. cable news market, Fox Network has extended its support to CNN in its lawsuit against US President Donald Trump for revoking CNN correspondent Jim Acosta’s White House credentials.
Despite being arch rivals and business competitors in the U.S. cable news market, Fox Network has extended its support to CNN in its lawsuit against US President Donald Trump for revoking CNN correspondent Jim Acosta’s White House credentials.
Fox News President Jay Wallace said that the network intends to file an amicus brief with a U.S. District Court in the lawsuit. “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.
The two networks have been rivals for over two decades and have been seen supporting opposing political ideologies – but Wallace said this case is about preserving the space for a free press.
"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.”
Fox News joins a number of media outlets who have announced that they would back CNN’s lawsuit against the Trump administration. The list includes the top tier of American news such as NBC News, The Associated Press, Bloomberg, The New York Times, Politico, USA Today, The Washington Post who have announced their decision to file supporting briefs, according to a press statement from Ballard Spahr LLP, a law firm representing the news organisations.
These networks also released a collective statement: "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. It is imperative that independent journalists have access to the President and his activities, and that journalists are not barred for arbitrary reasons," the thirteen outlets said in a statement. "Our news organizations support the fundamental constitutional right to question this President, or any President. We will be filing friend-of-the-court briefs to support CNN's and Jim Acosta's lawsuit based on these principles."
CNN filed its lawsuit on Tuesday morning in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. against Jim Acosta’s White House pass suspension after he had a testy exchange with Donald Trump after the results of the midterm elections had been declared.
Additional news outlets are likely to sign on to the brief in a case which has now pitted the who’s who of American news against the US President.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2018 05:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).