CNN’s Jim Acosta after court ruling: Let’s go back to work

CNN’s chief White House reporter Jim Acosta appeared eager to return to work on Friday after a federal district court judge ordered the White House to restore his press credentials.

“I want to thank all of my colleagues in the press who supported us this week and I want to thank the judge for the decision he made today and let’s go back to work,” he told reporters in a brief statement outside the courthouse. 

Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, handed CNN and Acosta an early win on Friday in the network’s challenge to the administration’s decision to revoke Acosta’s press pass on Nov. 7 following a contentious exchange with the president.

Though Kelly granted their request for a temporary restraining order to restore Acosta’s access to the White House for a short time, he made clear he has not yet determined if the administration’s move violated CNN and Acosta’s First Amendment rights.

Kelly, however, found a likelihood that Acosta and his employer will succeed on their claim that their Fifth Amendment rights to due process were violated.

Washington Attorney Theodore Boutrous, who represented CNN and Acosta, said it was a great day for the First Amendment and journalism.   

“It’s a temporary order, so we’re going to get the pass back now and he’ll be back reporting the news today,” he said of Acosta.

Boutrous said CNN will work with the White House in the case to come up with a better standard going forward for the revocation of credentials.