Legal experts are advising CNN to sue Trump for banning reporter Jim Acosta from the White House.
First Amendment expert Floyd Abrams said on CNN’s Reliable Sources, “I think it’s a really strong lawsuit. I can understand CNN being reluctant to sue because the president keeps saying CNN is the enemy of me, and CNN might have reluctance to have a lawsuit titled ‘CNN vs. Donald Trump.’ That said, yes, I think they should sue.”
Abrams continued, “This is going to happen again. It’s likely to happen again. So whether it’s CNN suing or the next company suing, someone is going to have to bring a lawsuit. And whoever does is going to win unless there’s some sort of reason.”
CNN has left open the possibility of a lawsuit, “No decisions have been made. We have reached out to the White House and gotten no response.”
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CNN was already threatened with bombs by a Trump supporter, so it is natural to assume that they might be reluctant to open themselves up to more attacks, but by not taking legal action the network will be giving people like the MAGA bomber and Trump exactly what they want. The whole point of the pipe bombs, the Acosta ban, and the presidential vilification is to chill free speech.
Trump doesn’t want CNN or any other press outlet reporting the truth about him and his administration. Donald Trump is trying to make an example out of CNN, which is why the network must file suit and win because the bigger issue isn’t CNN vs. Trump, but Trump vs. the First Amendment right of every single American to question and criticize their government.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
