“This is essentially a private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain,” said Brendan Ballou, an attorney for the plaintiffs.
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal lawsuit seeks to stop the UFC’s upcoming fight card on the South Lawn of the White House in a mixed martial arts show timed for President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Saturday’s filing by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two Virginia residents claims the Trump administration’s authorization of the June 14 event was illegal. The suit says such approval violated National Park Service regulations prohibiting sporting events in federal parks, Congress did not approve the high arch overlooking the event space, and no environmental review was conducted before construction.
“This is essentially a private, commercial and corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain,” said Brendan Ballou, an attorney for the plaintiffs. “And that’s what motivates this lawsuit.”
The White House said in a statement that the legal challenge was “an obtrusive, baseless and protracted effort” to prevent Trump from hosting the fight and that the event was “no different than the various other events hosted by the White House on the South Lawn and properly permitted events on the Ellipse and National Mall throughout the year.”
The UFC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.
Crews are erecting an octagon-shaped cage on the South Lawn. Trump has said that the finished UFC project will have “a 5,000-seat arena outside the front door of the White House.” Other large screens broadcasting the fights will be located in a park at the nearby Ellipse, and the UFC has said it plans to release up to 85,000 free tickets to accommodate spectators at both venues.
The Octagon and surrounding structures are the latest project in the Trump-led White House construction boom.
By MELISSA GOLDIN Associated Press
Subscribe to our free newsletters
Our weekly newsletter Closing arguments provides the latest on ongoing trials, major litigation and decisions in courts around the US and the world, while monthly Under the lights feeds legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.
