The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

Cable News Network, Inc. v. Trump

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, No. 1:18-cv-02610, filed November 13, 2018

Published 2026-09-22. Last reviewed 2026-09-22. 5 sources.

Caption
Cable News Network, Inc. v. Trump
Court
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Court level
trial court
Docket
1:18-cv-02610
Filed
2018-11-13
Decided
2018-11-16
Status
dismissed

What the court held

Judge Timothy J. Kelly granted CNN a temporary restraining order requiring the White House to reinstate Jim Acosta's press pass on due-process grounds drawn from Sherrill v. Knight; the White House restored the pass and CNN dropped the suit.12345

Closed; pass restored, suit dismissed by agreement of the parties.12345

Incidents

Documents and reporting

Claims cited

  1. Judge Timothy J. Kelly granted CNN's motion for a temporary restraining order on November 16, 2018. Federal Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the Trump administration on Friday to temporarily reinstate CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta's press credentials. Judge reinstates Acosta press pass, Freedom of the Press Foundation, 2018-11-16. Claim 17, checked 2026-09-22.
  2. Judge Kelly granted CNN's motion for a temporary restraining order requiring the White House to reinstate Acosta's hard pass. Timothy Kelly, the federal judge presiding over CNN's case against the president, seemed to accept with that reasoning when he granted CNN's motion for a temporary restraining order on Friday Judge reinstates Acosta press pass, Freedom of the Press Foundation, 2018-11-16. Claim 18, checked 2026-09-22.
  3. The White House told Acosta "your hard pass is restored," and CNN said the lawsuit was "no longer necessary." your hard pass is restored, White House restores Jim Acosta's press pass, CNN drops lawsuit, Yahoo News / AP, 2018-11-19. Claim 19, checked 2026-09-22.
  4. Acosta could not access the White House grounds under his usual credential until the pass was restored. your hard pass is restored, White House restores Jim Acosta's press pass, CNN drops lawsuit, Yahoo News / AP, 2018-11-19. Claim 44, checked 2026-09-22.
  5. The White House restored Acosta's pass and CNN dropped its lawsuit. lawsuit is no longer necessary White House restores Jim Acosta's press pass, CNN drops lawsuit, Yahoo News / AP, 2018-11-19. Claim 45, checked 2026-09-22.