By Mike Scarcella
WASHINGTON, July 8 (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court ruled on Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s administration cannot restore the Republican leader’s name to the facade of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington while he challenges a judge’s order that required its removal.
The decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied a request from the Trump administration to pause a lower court judge’s order in a lawsuit brought by Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, a Kennedy Center board member.
Trump’s name was removed from the iconic Washington theater center’s facade and signage last month. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the removal in May, and also blocked Trump’s plans to close the center for two years of renovations starting July 4.
The appeals court ruling was not on the merits of the case, and Trump’s appeal can continue.
The White House had no immediate comment. Representatives for Beatty did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In its appeal, the Trump administration said the removal of Trump’s name would harm fundraising efforts “and contribute to the financial decline of the Center.”
The unsigned appeals court order said the administration had not backed up that assertion “with any specific facts or evidence.”
The appeals court also said the administration was barred from asserting that a new entity called The Trump Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Foundation will have to return money if the president’s name is not returned to the facade.
The panel of judges included two appointed by former Democratic U.S. President Barack Obama, and a third appointed by Trump during his first term.
(Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
