Judge orders to Kennedy Center to turn over financial records as DOJ fights to keep Trump’s role secret

The Trump administration's Justice Department is trying to shield the president's part in running the Kennedy Center from scrutiny, and a federal judge has now partly rebuffed it. On Friday, the judge directed the center to hand over additional financial records in a lawsuit over Donald Trump's role there, but allowed the department more time to defend its claim of executive privilege, which remains undecided, according to the Washington Post, according to The Independent.

Representative Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat, brought the case from her seat on the center's board, which she holds by virtue of her office. She wants to stop a two-year shutdown for repairs and the renaming of the building. A judge already ordered Trump's name taken off the facade, though her effort to keep the center open has stalled. Her lawyers argue that Trump's decisions as board chairman are central to the case and that privilege would "obstruct the search for the truth."

During depositions, Justice Department attorneys told executive director Matt Floca not to answer questions about talks with Trump and his advisers, including early contact from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →