Lawsuit Puts UFC Match on White House Grounds in Jeopardy
It is hard to ignore what is happening at the White House this weekend. An enormous "claw" has been constructed on the grounds of the People's House for an upcoming UFC fight on Sunday. But will the event even happen? A new lawsuit is geared toward stopping the fight from taking place on White House grounds. Read on for the details of the lawsuit, and if it has any legal merit.
UFC Fight at White House Challenged by Lawsuit
Two Virginia residents are attempting to stop the UFC fight scheduled for Sunday evening, June 14th at the White House South Lawn. The fight is part of the ongoing celebrations of the country's 250th birthday on July 4. The fight is also happening on President Donald Trump's 80th birthday.
The lawsuit was filed by the Public Integrity Project on Saturday. According to the group, the complaint was filed on behalf of a civic activist and a Vietnam War veteran. The lawsuit argues that the structure that was temporarily erected on the hallowed grounds of the White House is not legal without congressional approval and environmental review.
The Public Integrity Project is also arguing that the event will benefit President Trump. The filing states that the use of the White House property “to stage a private, for-profit sports event, with all the promotional and branding opportunities that accompany such access” will provide financial benefit to UFC President Dana White along with the president.
It was recently reported that Trump purchased $50,000 in TKO Group Holdings stock at the end of March. This is notable, as TKO Group is the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The timing of the stock purchase, just months before the event at the White House, has prompted criticism about a conflict of interest.
Attorneys representing the plaintiffs are raising questions about the assertion from the Trump administration that the UFC event falls under the umbrella of authorization granted by Congress to celebrate America's birthday. The lawsuit states that the UFC match “is not in any material sense a ‘celebration of the 250th anniversary of American Independence’—it is, instead, a celebration of the UFC’s brand and the 80th anniversary of Donald Trump’s birth.”
Next Steps in the Legal Fight to Stop the Fight
What comes next? The federal judge overseeing the case has ordered the Trump administration to submit a formal response to the lawsuit by Tuesday evening. U.S. District Judge Amit P Mehta has not yet set a hearing date; however, legal experts contend that it is possible that he could order both sides of the argument to come before the court to present their case in person. Former President Barack Obama appointed Mehta.
The two residents behind the lawsuit asked the court to respond with a decision by Thursday.
In addition to the fight being contested on the grounds of the White House on Sunday, the UFC is also holding a weigh-in for the fighters on Friday. This spectacle is scheduled to happen in front of the Lincoln Memorial, an event that the plaintiffs also take issue with due to the location.
Plaintiff Paul Romano, a Vietnam War veteran and retired Air Force sergeant, released a statement that said that “The Lincoln Memorial is sacred ground, and it honors everyone who has ever worn this country’s uniform....Using it as a backdrop for a for-profit cage fight so the President and his friends can make money is a desecration.”
The authors of the lawsuit also note reports that UFC is selling VIP packages for the fight at a price tag between $1 million and $1.5 million. The complaint cites this as a reason they believe that Trump and White will benefit financially from the UFC event.
Brendan Ballou, founder of the Public Integrity Project, is criticizing the event by calling it a “profoundly corrupt scheme to enrich the President and his friends.” Ballou went on to say that “If this fight is allowed to proceed, it will be only the beginning, and our national monuments will become little more than branding opportunities for the rich and well-connected."
The construction on the fight cage began last week. The so-called "claw" arched lighting grid now dominates the skyline of the nation's capital, raising the ire of historical preservation groups across the U.S.
Trump does not share the concern that the match is in violation of what Congress granted him the power to plan as part of the nation's 250th birthday. Instead, Trump said that the event is slated to be “the greatest show on Earth.” Now it is up to the courts to decide if this show will go on as planned.
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