I think it would be important for people to understand the steps involved in getting a White House Press pass
1. The journalist must first be issued a Senate and House press pass. This is accomplished through the Standing Committee of Correspondents which consists of leading journalists. They have their own certification process.
2. The journalist must then demonstrate to the White House Office of the Press Secretary that they are an employee and agent of a news service. There is a complicated list of qualifications.
3. The WHOPS then requests a security investigation by the USSS. - Robert SHERRILL v. H. Stuart KNIGHT, Director, United States Secret Service, et al (1977) requires the USSS to be able to defend any adverse decision
4. Upon receipt of a favorable USSS report, the WHOPS issues the accreditation. It is not clear whether the WHOPS has the authority to deny an application. From my research, it appears that the WHOPS has just an administrative/coordination role in this.
5. The approved journalist can renew his or her credentials every year without needing a further USSS investigation. The USSS still has the authority to conduct their own investigation upon receiving probable cause that the Journalist is a security risk.
Sadly there not a lot of specific procedures for revoking and for any appeal of a revocation of a White House press credentials other than a USSS unfavorable report.
What is interesting is that the rational for revoking Acostas' credentials was his supposedly assaulting the intern.
There is precedence with Naomi Nover physically assaulting other reporters during the Carter and Reagan administrations and she was allowed to keep her credentials.
I think it would be important for people to understand the steps involved in getting a White House Press pass
1. The journalist must first be issued a Senate and House press pass. This is accomplished through the Standing Committee of Correspondents which consists of leading journalists. They have their own certification process.
2. The journalist must then demonstrate to the White House Office of the Press Secretary that they are an employee and agent of a news service. There is a complicated list of qualifications.
3. The WHOPS then requests a security investigation by the USSS.
- Robert SHERRILL v. H. Stuart KNIGHT, Director, United States Secret Service, et al (1977) requires the USSS to be able to defend any adverse decision
4. Upon receipt of a favorable USSS report, the WHOPS issues the accreditation. It is not clear whether the WHOPS has the authority to deny an application. From my research, it appears that the WHOPS has just an administrative/coordination role in this.
5. The approved journalist can renew his or her credentials every year without needing a further USSS investigation. The USSS still has the authority to conduct their own investigation upon receiving probable cause that the Journalist is a security risk.
Sadly there not a lot of specific procedures for revoking and for any appeal of a revocation of a White House press credentials other than a USSS unfavorable report.
What is interesting is that the rational for revoking Acostas' credentials was his supposedly assaulting the intern.
There is precedence with Naomi Nover physically assaulting other reporters during the Carter and Reagan administrations and she was allowed to keep her credentials.