Fox News Channel on Wednesday announced their intention to file an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief on behalf of CNN's lawsuit against the Trump administration. CNN decided to file the lawsuit against the Trump administration for revoking the hard press pass of their Senior White House Correspondent, Jim Acosta.
“FOX News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporter’s press credential. We intend to file an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court. Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized," Fox News President Jay Wallace said in a statement. "While we don’t condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people.”
CNN took to Twitter to thank the conservative news channel for their support:
Fox News will file an amicus brief in support of @Acosta and CNN. Thank you @FoxNews! Statement from Jay Wallace below: pic.twitter.com/1EyRkho0TK
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) November 14, 2018
Other news outlets are reportedly filing amicus curiae briefs as well:
New:: The AP; Bloomberg; First Look; Fox News; Gannett; National Press Club; NBC News; The New York Times; Politico; Press Freedom Defense Fund; E.W. Scripps; USA Today; and The Washington Post have filed joint friend-of-the-court briefs to support CNN’s and Jim Acosta’s lawsuit.
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) November 14, 2018
Statement from AP, Bloomberg News, First Look Media, Fox News, NBC News, Politico, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today and others: "We will be filing friend of the court briefs to support CNN's and Jim Acosta's lawsuit based on these principles"
— Edward Hardy (@EdwardTHardy) November 14, 2018
“It is imperative that independent journalists have access to the President and his activities, and that journalists are not barred for arbitrary reasons.”
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) November 14, 2018
- NBC News, AP, Bloomberg, Fox News, NYT, POLITICO, USA Today, Wash Post, in support of CNN’s lawsuit against WH. pic.twitter.com/Fl2KhTwruv
Various people applauded the decision:
Good sign of press outlets coming together. The freedom of the press is at stake. https://t.co/yc0e91Ygxe
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) November 14, 2018
Fox News in a show of support for CNN and Jim Acosta. Bravo. https://t.co/v0pgWuuh0G
— Sunny Hostin (@sunny) November 14, 2018
Of course, Fox News is supporting CNN. What will be the first outlet targeted by a Democratic President? Fox News. When it happens, liberal outlets will laugh and say they deserved it. Then, they'll feel dumb, but they will be able to say, "We supported CNN."
— John Hawkins (@johnhawkinsrwn) November 14, 2018
This really is quite something. Fox News has turned. It's supporting CNN against Trump. America has finally discovered that some things *are* more impo
Goodbye, @foxnews. You had a good run there for a while. https://t.co/05ukFo68Nw
— Nick Searcy, INTERNATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) November 14, 2018rtant than blind partisanship. Over to you, Britain https://t.co/YbTWROWcv0
— Carole Cadwalladr (@carolecadwalla) November 14, 2018
It's such a slam dunk Fox has joined https://t.co/6Vo5Va0cAz
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) November 14, 2018
Scott Adams explains why FOXNews supporting CNN on Acosta lawsuit is brilliant but looks stupid to you. https://t.co/pfM45ZjduT
— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) November 14, 2018
Excellent to see even FOX News taking on the Censor-in-Chief! https://t.co/Y9WOyj9ZIg
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) November 14, 2018
Not everyone agreed with the decision though:
Acosta's press credential/pass is not a "right!"
— Wayne Dupree ?? (@WayneDupreeShow) November 14, 2018
How do you support someone who treats the administration with disdain and arrogance? Fox News will lose viewers over this decision! https://t.co/pMWhcSNizm
Apparently, FoxNews is on a mission to completely alienate the Trump base.
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) November 14, 2018
Goodbye, @foxnews. You had a good run there for a while. https://t.co/05ukFo68Nw
— Nick Searcy, INTERNATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) November 14, 2018
WOW!!! FOX NEWS WILL SUPPORT JIM ACOSTA AND CNN. SAD.
— Michael Moates ???? (@freedom_moates) November 14, 2018
--> FOX HAS LOST ALL MY RESPECT. pic.twitter.com/Mjw40ogrhE