Ted Olson led Republicans to victory in Bush v. Gore, now he's helping CNN go after Trump

William Cummings | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption News association backs CNN's Jim Acosta on press pass flap The Radio Television Digital News Association is demanding the White House restore media credentials to CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after suspending his pass following a heated confrontation with President Donald Trump at a news conference. (Nov. 8)

WASHINGTON – Attorney Theodore B. Olson, the legal heavyweight best known for taking the Republicans' winning case before the Supreme Court in Bush v. Gore, is one of the attorneys representing CNN in its lawsuit against the Trump administration over the revocation of correspondent Jim Acosta's White House press credentials.

"The Supreme Court has held in no uncertain terms that the First Amendment protects 'robust political debate,' including speech that it is critical of those who hold public office," Olson said in a statement on Tuesday. "Mr. Acosta’s press credentials must be restored so that all members of the press know they will remain free to ask tough questions, challenge government officials, and report the business of the nation to the American people."

Acosta's credentials were taken after a wild press conference last week in which President Donald Trump called the reporter a "rude, terrible person" as Acosta refused to relinquish the microphone. It was the latest in a number of tense exchanges between Acosta and the president.

CNN announced Tuesday that it filed a lawsuit against Trump and other administration officials to get Acosta's credentials restored. USA TODAY and its parent company Gannett joined other news media organizations Wednesday in a filing friend-of-the-court briefs on CNN's behalf in the case.

In addition to his work on behalf of President George W. Bush in the Florida recount for the 2000 presidential election, Olson is also known for helping draft the legal arguments that led to the overturning of Proposition 8 in California, which banned same-sex marriage. Olson teamed up with attorney David Boies – the man who represented Vice President Al Gore's in 2000 – for that 2014 case.

Olson won another landmark case before the Supreme Court in Citizens United v. FEC, in the which the court ruled that political contributions are a form of free speech and protected by the First Amendment.

In March, Olson, 77, turned down an offer to join President Donald Trump's legal team to help defend the president in the face of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling, according to a report from The Washington Post.

Last month, Olson resigned as a member of the American Bar Association after the organization called for the FBI to investigate the sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the National Law Journal reported. He also testified as a character witness on Kavanaugh's behalf.

Olson is a partner in the Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher law firm, which is based in Los Angeles.