Reporters Defend Acosta, Slam WH After Credentials Suspended: ‘Deeply Concerning’
Following today’s fiery presidential press conference, the White House has suspended the press credentials for CNN’s Jim Acosta.
Press Secretary Sarah Sanders accused Acosta of crossing a line in “placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern,” referring to the intern who tried to take the mic from Acosta earlier.
Reporters came to Acosta’s defense and criticized the White House, while reporters in the room earlier said Sanders is not being accurate about what happened:
If this is a decision by the White House because it doesn't like the coverage, it's the first time I can remember this happening to any reporter since I started covering the White House more than 22 years ago. Very bad sign. https://t.co/VNPDua0dZn
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) November 8, 2018
this is garbage. and everyone saw what happened https://t.co/wqBad9SRKz
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) November 8, 2018
First part is questionable, second part didn’t happen. https://t.co/t4DSrxuX6W
— Katie Rogers (@katierogers) November 8, 2018
Even though Jim is a Redskins fan, this is petty and unfair treatment by an administration that has sought to make him a target of ire https://t.co/MGHTRzyhrA
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) November 8, 2018
This is chilling and outrageous. https://t.co/A7YhSuCe65
— Andrew Desiderio (@desiderioDC) November 8, 2018
This is wrong and deeply concerning. https://t.co/8fAE2eC9Uc
— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) November 8, 2018
The White House says it’s suspending @Acosta’s credential because he was “placing his hands on a young woman” during a heated moment at today’s press conference. Watch the video for yourself — that didn’t happen. https://t.co/wrvcNNB9AD
— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) November 8, 2018
Please watch this. @Acosta did not grab or put his hands on this young lady. https://t.co/u3BaluYL3H
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) November 8, 2018
.@Acosta didn't grab or place his hand on the WH intern. But let's not pretend the president and his campaign didn't lie for a week about his campaign manager grabbing a reporter or that the president praised a congressman who attacked a reporter.
This is shameful & bad faith.
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) November 8, 2018
Plenty to criticize Acosta about, but he did not "place his hands" on the intern. It's ridiculous for anyone to suggest he did. And after Trump joked about Gianforte bodyslamming Ben Jacobs the White House can't bust out the fainting couch now. https://t.co/1rFOw9CCiz
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) November 8, 2018
The White House has indefinitely revoked my colleague @Acosta’s WH credentials, accusing him of “placing his hands” on the WH intern who grabbed & tried to take the mic away from him.
Jim did no such thing. He simply held onto the mic & kept pressing the President to answer a Q pic.twitter.com/otbW3UzEse— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) November 8, 2018
I was seated next to @Acosta at today’s press conference and did not witness him “placing his hands” on the young intern, as the White House alleges. He held on to the microphone as she reached for it. The @Reuters pictures below depict what happened accurately. pic.twitter.com/nO68Hf4eQM
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) November 8, 2018
Even Fox News’ Howard Kurtz found the move “extremely unusual”:
It's extremely unusual for a WH to pull a fulltime reporter's credentials. Also unusual for a reporter to refuse to give up the mic after asking several questions.
— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) November 8, 2018
[image via screengrab]
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