Lawsuit Seeks to Block UFC Fight at White House
Plaintiffs say the 85,000-ticket event violates park rules, lacked congressional approval and skipped environmental review while enriching Trump and UFC executives.
- On Tuesday, the Trump administration asked a federal judge to reject a lawsuit seeking to halt the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House lawn, arguing the challenge was filed too late and the event is lawful.
- The Public Integrity Project filed the lawsuit last Saturday on behalf of Virginia residents Paul Romano and Susan Douglas, alleging the event violates National Park Service regulations and lacks required congressional approval.
- Justice Department lawyers told U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta that blocking the Sunday event would upend months of planning, with more than $60 million spent and over 120,000 visitors expected.
- Government attorneys warned that any delay could jeopardize the health of the 14 professional athletes involved, citing risks from prolonged weight cutting, while plaintiffs face a Wednesday evening deadline to reply.
- Scheduled for Sunday on the South Lawn, the event features a 92-foot-tall structure known as 'the Claw,' hosting 4,500 seats for a seven-fight lineup coinciding with President Trump's 80th birthday.
312 Articles
312 Articles
Brutal and uncouth, or patriotic crowd-pleaser? UFC comes to White House
WASHINGTON – Once condemned by John McCain as “human cockfighting,” UFC gets a White House showcase as President Trump hosts fights on the South Lawn for Freedom 250, drawing fans, critics and a lawsuit over violence, nationalism and federal land use.
DOJ slams last-minute lawsuit trying to stop UFC White House event
The Trump administration urged a federal judge to toss a last-minute lawsuit filed by a left-wing activist group seeking to block the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 fight at the White House. The UFC Freedom 250 event is set to take place Sunday, which is both Flag Day and President Donald Trump‘s 80th birthday, on the South Lawn of the White House, with the weigh-ins and faceoffs to be at the Lincoln Memorial. The lawsuit filed against the National Pa…
Trump plans UFC fights at the White House. A lawsuit is to stop the spectacle at his birthday party now.
Trump administration urges judge to reject bid to block White House UFC event
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's administration asked a judge on Tuesday to reject an effort to halt an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House lawn this weekend, arguing that the event was lawful and the challengers had waited too long to sue.
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