The hosts of ABC’s “The View” cheered the return of CNN’s chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta, whose hard pass allowing access to White House press briefings was returned Friday via court order.
WATCH:
“The First Amendment is alive and well now,” co-host Abby Huntsman said of the judge’s decision. “That’s the decision that they should have made and it’s still pending. They have to make a final decision but I think that gives you a pretty clear sense of the direction they’re going in.”
“If you’re the White House, you may not like the guy, can’t stand him, but how are you surprised because what precedent would that set if they were to rule against this?” Huntsman continued. “How many passes could you take away from people? Where does that end?” (RELATED: Judge: White House Has To Reinstate Jim Acosta’s Press Pass)
Guest host Ana Navarro chalked the decision up to the Constitution working “the way it’s supposed to” and then took a direct swipe at President Donald Trump.
“But you know what, man, is president grumpy man baby going to be mad today,” she said.
Ana Navarro guest hosts “The View” on ABC, 11/16/18/Screen Shot
The ladies on “The View” weren’t the only ones celebrating Friday’s decision as a win for the First Amendment.
A victory for the First Amendment and a free and independent press. https://t.co/Fe3PU8Nqew
— Marty Baron (@PostBaron) November 16, 2018
A big win for press freedom — a federal judge on Friday ruled in favor of CNN and reporter Jim Acosta, ordering the White House to temporarily restore the press credentials that the Trump Administration took away, @farhip reports https://t.co/0G2EYCUbpw
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) November 16, 2018
This ruling is a victory for press freedom & the rule of law. Let this be a message to President Trump: intimidating, berating, & threatening the press will not be tolerated in our country. https://t.co/vfoR1KRTVj
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) November 16, 2018
“Today, a major precedent was set for the future of a free press. It is a win for one reporter, but most importantly a win for the Constitution and the enduring freedoms it grants us all.”
–Georgetown Law’s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (@GeorgetownICAP)
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 16, 2018
Congrats to @Acosta @CNN —& the First Amendment. This is just the latest legal black eye for Trump in a long series of court losses starting with the first Muslim Ban. Have we ever seen a president show such contempt for the constitution? https://t.co/orFenfpGbS
— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) November 16, 2018
According to the court’s actual ruling, the First Amendment was not the deciding factor in Acosta’s case. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders noted that the court’s decision made it clear that no reporter had “an absolute First Amendment right to access the White House” and had instead ruled in Acosta’s favor with regard to his Fifth Amendment right to due process.
NEW: White House responds to order to restore Jim Acosta’s press pass as case progresses: “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.” https://t.co/t3JVuFI560 pic.twitter.com/h5Um0VzvbP
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 16, 2018
The court’s ruling, which temporarily restored Acosta’s hard pass, appears to have left the door open for the White House to take it again if it so pleases, provided due process is properly observed.