Beatty Challenges Immediate Kennedy Center Closure
Beatty Challenges Immediate Kennedy Center Closure
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Key Points
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The closure announcement was initially attributed to a possibly accidental fire-alarm activation: an announcement over the Kennedy Center’s loudspeakers said the building had closed, while defense counsel later told Beatty’s lawyers that someone had “improperly triggered the fire alarm” and that the announcement had followed automatically.
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The center’s recent safety concerns included significant storm-related structural damage, including a chunk of ceiling that reportedly collapsed after severe storms in the Washington, D.C., area.
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Trump said he had raised $17 million to help keep the Kennedy Center operating, but Beatty said that fundraising claim was not mentioned during the board meeting.
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Beatty said Trump told her during the board call that he would hold her “personally responsible” if someone were injured in the building, which he described as deteriorating.
Rep. Joyce Beatty asked a federal judge for an emergency hearing after the Kennedy Center's board voted to shut down the building immediately for safety repairs The Hill. The closure contradicts an earlier court order blocking the planned shutdown, according to Beatty's legal team. Security turned away her representatives, and workers began construction inside the shuttered building Rolling Out.
Judge Christopher Cooper ordered President Donald Trump and the Kennedy Center board to respond by Thursday The Hill. The dispute centers on Trump's effort to control the institution, rename it, and his authority over closure decisions. Beatty says Trump threatened to hold her "personally responsible" if anyone gets hurt in the deteriorating building.
Storm Damage Forces Urgent Closure Decision
The Kennedy Center cited serious safety risks to justify the immediate shutdown. Severe storms in Washington, D.C. caused significant structural damage, including a chunk of ceiling that collapsed inside the building Rolling Out. The center's board argued the infrastructure was deteriorating and posed a public safety threat requiring immediate closure.
Trump Raises Funds While Battling for Control
President Trump claimed he had raised $17 million to help keep the Kennedy Center operating Rolling Out. However, Beatty says Trump never mentioned this fundraising during the board meeting. Trump also told Beatty he would hold her "personally responsible" if someone got injured in the building, according to her legal filings.
Judge Blocks Trump's Name Without Congress Approval
Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that President Trump's name cannot be added to the Kennedy Center without congressional approval The Hill. This decision limits Trump's ability to rename the institution as part of his broader effort to control it. The ruling came as part of the wider legal dispute over the board's authority and the proper closure procedures apr.org.
Beatty Accuses Trump of Verbal Attacks and Deception
Beatty accused Trump of verbally attacking her during the board meeting and misrepresenting what trustees approved Rolling Out. She claims Trump made threats tied to his fundraising efforts. The dispute has escalated into a direct political confrontation between the Ohio Democrat and the president over who controls the Kennedy Center's future Rolling Out.
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