CNN sues Trump and White House aides

CNN is filing a lawsuit against President Trump and several of his aides, seeking the immediate restoration of chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta's access to the White House.

There are six defendants:

The six defendants are all named because of their roles in enforcing and announcing Acosta's suspension.

Both CNN and Acosta are plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Correction: The original version of this post listed the former director of the Secret Service as a defendant; the actual defendant is the current director.

CNN filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration this morning in DC District Court. It demands the return of the White House credentials of CNN’s Chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta.

The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acosta’s First Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their Fifth Amendment rights to due process.

We have asked this court for an immediate restraining order requiring the pass be returned to Jim, and will seek permanent relief as part of this process. While the suit is specific to CNN and Acosta, this could have happened to anyone.

If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials.

The full complaint is available here.

Watch more:

CNN is filing a lawsuit against President Trump and several of his aides, seeking the immediate restoration of chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta's access to the White House.

The lawsuit is a response to the White House's suspension of Acosta's press pass, known as a Secret Service "hard pass," last week. The suit alleges that Acosta's First and Fifth amendment rights are being violated by the ban.

Last Wednesday, shortly after Acosta was denied entry to the White House grounds, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders defended the unprecedented step by claiming that he had behaved inappropriately at a presidential news conference, and tweeted a misleading video from an InfoWars personality to justify it.

CNN and numerous journalism advocacy groups rejected her assertion and said his pass should be reinstated.

You can watch how the Wednesday news conference unfolded in the clip below: