The National Trust for Historic Preservation has stated it will not voluntarily dismiss its lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project after the Department of Justice requested withdrawal of the complaint following shots that rang out at Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
In a statement, Carol Quillen, head of the trust, emphasized: “We are not planning to voluntarily dismiss our lawsuit, which endangers no one and which respectfully asks the Administration to follow the law.”
The legal challenge coincided with a letter sent by Assistant Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday urging the National Trust to drop its case. Blanche wrote that the lawsuit poses a “grave risk” to the President’s life, his family, and staff, stating: “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.” He warned that if the lawsuit is not dismissed, “the government will move to dissolve the injunction and dismiss the case in light of last night’s extraordinary events.”
Trump and other conservatives have intensified their push for the ballroom project following the shooting incident at the dinner, arguing it underscores the difficulties in ensuring presidential security at large events held outside White House grounds.
The National Trust filed its lawsuit in December, a week after the White House completed demolition of the East Wing to make way for the proposed ballroom that Trump claimed could accommodate 999 people. Trump has asserted the project is funded by private donations, though public funds are being used for a below-ground bunker and security upgrades.
In its lawsuit, the trust contended that Trump overstepped his authority by advancing the project without first securing approval from key federal agencies and Congress. A federal appeals court recently permitted the project to proceed, ruling the day after a lower court judge blocked above-ground construction on the site and scheduled a June 5 hearing to review the case.
