Justice Department fires back at CNN’s lawsuit: No First Amendment right to enter White House

Nobody has a First Amendment right to demand access to the White House and CNN isn’t harmed by having reporter Jim Acosta barred from obtaining press credentials, the Justice Department said Wednesday, firing back at the cable network’s new lawsuit.

The fight reached a Washington courtroom Wednesday afternoon, where U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, a Trump appointee, heard arguments on CNN’s request that he immediately order the White House to reissue Mr. Acosta a pass.

The judge did not issue a ruling, saying he would return to the courtroom Thursday.

Government lawyers told him there’s no need to issue an emergency order restoring the press pass, since CNN has nearly 50 other journalists credentialed to cover the White House, and the network isn’t damaged.

They batted away CNN’s claims that it’s being punished for its critical coverage of this president, and said it would be unthinkable for the White House to have no control over who gets to enter.

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