*By Carlo Versano* A federal judge made a limited ruling Friday that the White House must immediately restore press access to CNN correspondent Jim Acosta on Fifth Amendment grounds. Federal Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed by President Trump, granted CNN's request for a temporary restraining order, which will allow Acosta to re-join the White House press corps, at least temporarily. Kelly did not issue a formal ruling on the case, which is expected to come after more hearings. "This case is not over," Joe Concha, a media reporter for The Hill, told Cheddar Friday. Judge Kelly did not make a decision one way or another on Acosta's First Amendment right to White House access. Rather, his ruling was based on the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The White House responded to the ruling in a statement that interpreted Kelly's decision to bypass the First Amendment issue as a win. “Today, the court made clear that there is no absolute First Amendment right to access the White House. In response to the court, we will temporarily reinstate the reporter’s hard pass. We will also further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future." "There must be decorum at the White House," the statement added. President Trump expanded in an impromptu Q&A with reporters: "We want total freedom of the press. It's more important to me than anybody would believe. But you have to act with respect when you're at the White House, and when I see the way some of my people get treated at news conferences, it's terrible. The White House yanked Acosta's press pass following a series of back-and-forths between President Trump and the reporter that culminated in an explosive exchange at a press conference the day after the midterm elections. At first, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said they pulled Acosta's pass because he had placed his hands on a White House intern who had attempted to take the microphone out of his hands. After that argument was challenged by Acosta's defenders, the White House's position evolved into a broader complaint about the reporter's overall behavior at press briefings. Concha told Cheddar that eliminating the live feed of the daily briefing (which has become more of a weekly or biweekly briefing, of late), might limit grandstanding from both reporters and Trump Administration officials at the podium and cut down on confrontations. That type of broader reform, however, appears unlikely. And with Acosta allowed back into the White House, Concha said the press office is likely to simply "box him out" of asking questions. "I don't think this is going to change anything," Concha said of the ruling. For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/whats-next-in-the-cnn-trump-saga).

Share:
More In Politics
Federal Judge Blocks Biden from Ending Pandemic-Era Border Restrictions
President Biden wants to repeal a Trump-era policy called Title 42, which makes it harder for migrants to seek asylum. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration from letting this happen. Cheddar News is joined by Maria Pabon, Dean Brian Bromberger Distinguished Professor of Law at Loyola University, to discuss.
Secretary of State Blinken Displays Confidence in Ukraine While Addressing Congress
Politico's Defense Reporter Paul McLeary joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss the significance of cabinet members Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's recent trip to Ukraine, and to break down how the U.S. is furthering its support for the besieged nation as Russian aggression intensifies.
Harris Positive for COVID-19, Biden Not a 'Close Contact'
Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the White House announced. That's underscoring the persistence of the highly contagious virus even as the U.S. eases restrictions in a bid to revert to pre-pandemic normalcy.
Supreme Court Hears Case of High School Football Coach Praying on Field
The Supreme Court is taking on the case of Joseph Kennedy, who was fired from his job as Bremerton High School assistant coach in Washington for his post-match prayers that were joined by students. Rachel Laser, President and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, joins Cheddar News to explain the possible implications of a ruling.
President Biden's Latest Student Debt Efforts
Student loans are affecting about 46 million Americans across the country, adding up to nearly $1.7 trillion of debt total. President Biden has announced a handful of actions designed to bring millions of borrowers a step closer to debt forgiveness. Katie Lobosco, writer for CNN Politics, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
Millennials Struggle to Own Amid Hot Housing Market
Once called the rent-forever generation, Millennials are bucking the trend. But just as they age into their prime home-buying years, they’ve run up against a red hot housing market exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Cheddar News senior Reporter Chloe Aiello went to Hudson, N.Y., to learn more.
Judge Finds Trump in Contempt in Legal Fight With NY AG
A New York judge has found former President Donald Trump in contempt of court for failing to adequately respond to a subpoena issued by the state’s attorney general as part of a civil investigation into his business dealings.
Load More