This is really amazing…
Judge Richard Leon asked the Justice Department lawyers, “Where do you see the president having the authority to tear down the East Wing and build something else there?”
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is taking legal action to stop the construction of Trump’s $400 million ballroom.
They call it a corrupt and self-centered project that’s being funded by donations from big companies.
Judge Leon said Trump is trying to get around congressional oversight by using private money for the construction.
He criticized the administration’s complicated argument that the Interior Department’s authority allows the project as a “Rube Goldberg contraption,” which needs a very broad interpretation of federal law. The law is only meant to allow “very small sized projects” that use taxpayer money for White House maintenance.
Judge Leon said, “This isn’t for $400 million worth of destruction and construction.”
He also asked the DOJ attorneys to explain how Trump could legally justify quickly tearing down the East Wing for his ballroom.
When the attorneys tried to compare the ballroom project to Gerald Ford building a swimming pool in 1975, Judge Leon responded with, “You compare that to ripping down the East Wing and building a new East Wing?
C’mon. Be serious.”
The judge said he won’t make a ruling this month, but could decide next month.
Trump plans to start building above ground in April, so a bad ruling could stop his plans completely.
Tad Heuer, an attorney for the preservationists, said, “The president is a temporary resident of the White House.
He’s not the landlord.”
Judge Leon replied, “He’s a steward.”
Do you think Trump should be forced to abandon his ballroom and rebuild the East Wing using his own money?
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