President Trump has invoked presidential communications privilege to withhold records and testimony sought by Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) in her lawsuit challenging plans to close the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for two years for renovations.
Beatty opposes the board’s plan to close the center’s main building for two years for renovations. The lawsuit focuses on whether the board met its legal obligations when approving the closure.
In a court filing White House Deputy Counsel Joshua Hoyt, acting at the direction of the President, asserted the presidential communications privilege over information, documents, and communications between Trump, his advisers, and Kennedy Center staff regarding the center’s management and operations.
The administration argues the requests are overbroad, amount to a “fishing expedition,” and raise separation-of-powers concerns. It further contends that the communications relate to the President’s official statutory duties concerning the Kennedy Center, rather than only his role as board chair.
