CNN’s Stelter: Media Law Experts I’ve Spoken with Today Say We Have a ‘Very Strong Case’ with Acosta’s Press Pass

EXCERPT: 

STELTER: "Well, vigorous is the word from Sarah Sanders. She says the White House will vigorously defend itself. Essentially, in her statement today, she accuses Acosta of being unprofessional. Of being a show boat. And she says CNN is grandstanding by filing this lawsuit. Here’s a portion of her statement, Wolf, which came out earlier today. Sanders said 'the White House cannot run an orderly and fair press conference when a reporter acts this way,' trying to hog the mic. She says it was 'neither appropriate nor professional.' She says it impedes the members of the media to conduct business. So basically, what the White House is doing here is complaining about Acosta’s style. They’re complaining he was trying to ask too many followup questions at last week’s press conference. But, of course, reporters oftentimes ask followup questions, nothing unusual about that. So she is focusing on the style. But the substance of the lawsuit is pretty clear. The substance of the lawsuit dates back to the ‘70s when there was this reporter named Robert Cheryl who tried to get a press pass but was rejected. After a long court battle, the district court in D.C. concluded the Secret Service had to to have clear, specific guidelines. And in practice those guidelines mean everybody gets a press pass unless you’re a direct threat to the President. Obviously, Acosta is not a direct threat to the President. So many media law experts, ones I’ve spoken with today who don’t have any affiliation with CNN say the network has a very strong case here. And even an analyst on Fox News today said this isn’t going to last very long. It should be resolved pretty quickly because CNN is on very solid legal ground."