Judge partially backs Democrat Kennedy Center trustee in lawsuit over renaming
A judge ruled largely in favor of Rep. Joyce Beatty, allowing her input on the Kennedy Center's planned closure and renaming, but stopped short of guaranteeing a vote.Summary
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued a ruling largely supporting Rep. Joyce Beatty’s lawsuit seeking more information regarding the planned closure and renovation of the Kennedy Center, as well as its potential renaming. Judge Christopher Cooper mandated that Beatty, as a trustee, be given a “meaningful opportunity to provide input” at the upcoming board meeting chaired by President Trump and not be “categorically barred” from speaking. However, the judge refrained from immediately granting Beatty the right to vote, citing complexities surrounding the issue.
The lawsuit challenges both the proposed renaming of the Kennedy Center to include Donald Trump’s name and the planned two-year closure for renovations. The judge criticized the government’s justification for withholding project details as “bordering on preposterous,” directing them to provide Beatty with the necessary materials before Monday’s meeting.
Beatty stated that “No president has the authority to shut Congress out of the governance of the Kennedy Center,” and intends to voice her concerns at the board meeting. The White House maintains that the renaming occurred because Trump “stepped up and saved the old Kennedy Center.” The court will address the renaming and closure issues at a later date, while the question of Beatty’s voting rights remains unresolved, pending clarification on the board’s historical practices.
(Source：Google News)