The plaintiffs are the Cable News Network (CNN) and their chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta, and the defendants are members of the Donald Trump administration and United States Secret Service.

Citing Sherrill v. Knight, Pursuing America's Greatness v. Federal Election Commission, and Elrod v. Burns,[1][2] the suit argued that the White House wrongfully revoked Acosta's press credentials in violation of the First Amendment right to freedom of the press and Fifth Amendment right to due process, respectively; and, additionally citing federal regulations (namely, "Fed.

CNN White House Correspondent Jim Acosta asked President Trump about his use of the word invasion to describe the Central American migrant caravans.

Acosta then refused to give up the mic and tried to ask a question regarding the Special Counsel investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections, but Trump repeated "That's enough" three more times before the intern tried to take the microphone from him.

[7][8] Later that day while he attempted to do a live report outside the White House, an unidentified Secret Service agent confiscated Acosta's press pass.

"[9][10] The next day, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders defended their actions, claiming Acosta had "placed his hands" on the intern.

[23][6] On November 19, the White House outlined four rules for reporters during press conferences:[24] White House Correspondents' Association president Olivier Knox replied that they had "no role in crafting any procedures for future press conferences" and that reporters should continue to be allowed to ask follow-up questions.

[24] Jim Acosta wrote about the press conference incident with President Trump and its aftermath that led to the lawsuit in his 2019 book The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America.