Justice Department Calls to Drop Ballroom Suit After Gala Attack [View all]

Source: Bloomberg Law

A top Justice Department official demanded that a historic preservationalist group drop its challenge to Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project, following an attempted attack Saturday at a Washington gala the president attended.

Brett Shumate, who leads the Justice Department’s civil division, gave an attorney for the National Trust for Historic Preservation until 9 a.m. Monday for his client to voluntarily dismiss its lawsuit challenging construction of a 90,00-square foot ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing.

“Put simply, your lawsuit puts the lives of the President, his family, and his staff at grave risk,” Shumate wrote in the letter. “I hope yesterday’s narrow miss will help you finally realize the folly of a lawsuit that literally serves no purpose except to stop President Trump no matter the cost.”

The letter, addressed to Gregory Craig of Foley Hoag, was posted on X on Sunday by acting attorney general Todd Blanche, the day after an armed suspect attempted to enter a Washington hotel ballroom during the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner. Trump attended the dinner for the first time as president, alongside other top administration officials, and was expected to deliver a speech.

Shumate said in his letter that a completed ballroom would mean future presidents “will no longer need to venture beyond the safety of the White House perimeter to attend large gatherings at the Washington Hilton ballroom.”

Read more: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/justice-department-calls-to-drop-ballroom-suit-after-gala-attack

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