General Discussion

Justice Department officials late Monday asked a federal judge to lift his order halting President Donald Trump’s planned $400 million ballroom, contending in a rambling legal filing that Saturday’s attack at the White House correspondents’ dinner proved why the space is needed.....

The Justice Department’s motion — unusually written for a government legal filing, containing dubious claims and resembling Trump’s Truth Social posts — was one of several documents filed to the court late Monday night. The motion also criticizes the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the nonprofit that brought the lawsuit, writing that the group’s “name is FAKE” and claiming that “they suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome, commonly referred to as TDS.” The motion calls the ballroom a “gift” to the country because Trump plans to pay for it with private donations and boasts about the president’s capabilities.

“Because it is DONALD J. TRUMP, a highly successful real estate developer, who has abilities that others don’t, especially those who assume the Office of President, this frivolous and meritless lawsuit was filed,” the Justice Department lawyers write.

Notably, none of the administration attorneys who have previously appeared or argued the case signed the motion, which was only signed by Trump political appointees. Trump posted screenshots of the motion on his Truth Social account on Tuesday morning......
The National Trust on Monday said that it would not drop its lawsuit, contending that its challenge is focused on whether the president has the executive authority to unilaterally demolish parts of the White House and build new facilities, and not related to national security. It also noted that the group had consistently called for any court injunction to allow continued construction of any underground bunker, and called for the Justice Department to tone down its language.

“Your assertion that this lawsuit puts the President’s life at ‘grave risk’ is incorrect and irresponsible,” Gregory Craig, a Foley Hoag lawyer representing the National Trust, wrote to the Justice Department in a letter shared with The Washington Post.