Congresswoman sues Trump administration over renaming of Kennedy Center - National | Globalnews.ca

Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty filed a lawsuit Monday in Washington, D.C., suing the Trump administration over the move to add U.S. President Donald Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center . Beatty, who sits on the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, said that adding Trump’s name to the venue is a “flagrant violation” of the constitution. The lawsuit calls renaming the centre “more reminiscent of authoritarian regimes than an American Republic.” “Congress intended the Center to be a living memorial to President Kennedy and a crown jewel of the arts for all Americans, irrespective of party. Unless and until this Court intervenes, Defendants will continue to defy Congress and thwart the law for improper ends,” the lawsuit, published by the New York Times , reads. Beatty called the board meeting held to vote to rename the Kennedy Center “a thinly-veiled sham.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the name change on social media on Dec. 18 , saying the board had voted unanimously to adopt it. By Friday morning, its website masthead had been updated to reflect its new name, and now reads “ The Trump Kennedy Center .” New signs appeared on the centre’s facade on Friday, to include Trump’s name. “The meeting was held at the home of one of Defendant Trump’s supporters, whom he had installed to the Board. No notice was provided that a name change was being considered,” the lawsuit reads. “During the meeting, those who might oppose the name change were prevented from speaking.” The lawsuit says Beatty “participated in the meeting remotely,” and was muted when she tried to oppose the move. “This was a transparent effort to prevent any disagreement with the Board’s actions and indicates that nothing could, or will, ever change Defendants’ minds. The proceedings were mere window dressing for a predetermined decision,” it reads. Beatty “repeatedly attempted to unmute herself,” the suit says, but “found that she was unable to do so.” “Instead, the Plaintiff received written notices that she would not be unmuted, and therefore she could not participate in the meeting. At the end of the meeting, members of the Board falsely declared that the vote had been unanimous. It is clear that nothing could or would change Defendants’ mind,” the lawsuit adds. The renaming of the Kennedy Center “violates federal law,” according to the lawsuit. “By statute, Congress has named the center as ‘the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.’ Under our constitutional system, only Congress can modify a statute, and Congress must do so by enacting a new statute,” the lawsuit reads. “Congress has not changed the Kennedy Center’s name. Instead, Defendants are willfully flouting the law to satisfy Defendant Trump’s vanity.” Get breaking National news Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy . Beatty’s lawsuit claims that the court’s “intervention is urgently needed.” “The renaming of the Kennedy Center will cause severe harm to this landmark institution, which is already struggling. Plaintiff in this case...

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