Kennedy Center Violated the Law by Adding Trump's Name, Judge Says
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
A federal judge ruled on Friday that President Donald Trump's name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center and prohibited the administration from closing the cultural and artistic venue for major renovations. District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington, D.C., determined that the board's vote on March 16 to close the facilities was 'misinformed and apparently predetermined,' disregarding its legal obligations. 'The trustees could have evaluated the appropriateness of the closure in various prudent ways. This was not one of them,' Cooper wrote. He added that the board 'exceeded its authority' by unilaterally adding Trump's name to the center, noting that Congress gave the center its name and only Congress can change it. Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center's vice president of public relations, stated on Friday that the institution is 'confident that, on appeal, the court will support the board's desire to recognize President Trump's historical contributions to our national cultural center.' She indicated that the decision would be 'carefully reviewed.' 'Although the reality remains that the Center requires urgent and significant restoration—a truth that even the plaintiff acknowledges,' Daravi said. 'With $257 million secured by President Trump and approved by Congress, resources are available, and we remain committed to exhausting all legal avenues to ensure that the Trump Kennedy Center is restored as a national cultural landmark for all Americans to enjoy.' Cooper held hearings in late April on parallel lawsuits challenging the project. One was filed by a group of cultural and historic preservation organizations, while the other was filed by Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio who serves as an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board. He ruled in favor of Beatty's request but rejected the other challenge. Justice Department lawyers argued that the renovation plans for the building are limited in scope and fully within the board's authority to carry out without external approvals. The plaintiffs fear that the president and his allies on the board will overlook preservation standards designed to maintain the building's historical integrity. In previous statements during court hearings, Beatty's lawyers and the preservation groups expressed doubts about the limited scope of the project, citing Trump's comments about 'completely exposing' the building's steel skeleton. Beatty has said she is 'very fearful that we will see what happened with the East Wing and what happened with the Rose Garden' if the center closes and renovations are allowed without oversight, referring to significant changes the president has made at the White House. Trump has shown a marked interest in the Center's operations since returning to the White House last year. He installed a board that named him president. His name was added to the facade of a building considered a living monument to President John F. Kennedy. The Center has continued to operate, albeit at a much slower pace than in previous years. Trump attended the opening of the musical 'Chicago' in March, and other shows, including 'Moulin Rouge,' are scheduled for June. Comedian Bill Maher, who has had a tumultuous relationship with Trump, is set to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on June 28, an event anticipated as one of the last major moments at the Kennedy Center before the closure. Cooper was nominated to the position by Democratic President Barack Obama.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
