In a break with protocol, the White House has suspended the press pass of CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta “until further notice.”

The move followed a tense exchange at a Wednesday news conference where President Trump called Acosta a “rude, terrible person” as he tried to ask the President a question about the Russia investigation.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted “President Trump believes in a free press and expects and welcomes tough questions of him and his administration.”

She also said…”We will, however, never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a white house intern. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable.”

Acosta tweeted that Sanders’ description of the incident was a “lie.”

In a statement…CNN said Acosta has the network’s full support and that “Sanders…lied and cited an incident that never happened.”

The White House Correspondents’ Association is publicly urging the White House to reverse its action.