The White House Monday rolled out a set of rules for reporters at future news conferences, following its decision to restore White House access to CNN correspondent Jim Acosta.
Acosta’s “hard pass” giving him expedited access to White House grounds had been yanked, then temporarily given back by a judge, after a testy news conference Nov. 7 with President Donald Trump.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced in a statement the administration notified Acosta his pass was restored, but also that he and other reporters would need to abide by four rules.
Voice of America bureau chief Steve Herman tweeted out the statement.
The new rules are that: a journalist can ask just one question; can ask follow-up questions at the discretion of the president or other officials; must give up a microphone to other journalists; and will face the revocation of their passes for not respecting the rules.
Sanders also hinted at the possibility more rules could be forthcoming.
“It would be a great loss for all if, instead of relying on the professionalism of White House journalists, we were compelled to devise a lengthy and detailed code of conduct for White House events,” she said in the statement.
The rules capped quickly unfolding events in which the threat of an extensive ban of Acosta was reportedly argued — and refuted — in an exchange of emails and court filings.