Lawyers Say the Trump Administration Is Withholding Kennedy Center Records
Attorneys for a Democratic lawmaker challenging President Donald Trump's plan to close the Kennedy Center for renovations say his administration is withholding records documenting the scope of his influence over its management. In a Sunday court filing, plaintiffs' lawyers said a list of records in the center's possession suggests Trump has been in 'near-constant contact' with its management, either directly or through intermediaries.
They argue the communications directly bear on the issues before the court and that the privilege claim cannot stand. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper did not immediately rule on their request to compel disclosure of the records.
AI-generated discussion · Different perspectives
The number is the story: 19 texts between the center's CEO and a Trump executive assistant, plus lawyers arguing the privilege claim cannot stand, turns an abstract records fight into a concrete paper trail.
A count is a reason to look, not a conclusion. 'Kennedy Center-related matters' is a broad label; a message can be a lunch invitation or a directive.