Justice Department cites Correspondents' Dinner shooting in push to drop Trump ballroom lawsuit
Summary
President Donald Trump's Justice Department is pressing a group called the National Trust for Historic Preservation to drop its lawsuit that blocks building a $400 million ballroom at the White House site. The government argues that a shooting at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Dinner showed the current venue is unsafe, and the new ballroom would improve security for future events.Key Facts
- The shooting happened outside the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday.
- The dinner was attended by about 2,300 people, including President Trump.
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued in December to stop Trump's plan to build a ballroom where the East Wing of the White House used to be.
- The ballroom construction costs $400 million and is mostly funded by private donations, but public funds are used for security upgrades and a bunker.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate say the Hilton is too small and unsafe for events with the president.
- The Justice Department gave the preservation group a deadline to drop their lawsuit by Monday morning or face court action.
- Some Republican lawmakers support the ballroom, calling it a security necessity.
- Even some Democrats, like Senator John Fetterman, said the ballroom would be useful for important events and improve safety.
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