Two citizens have filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service in an attempt to prevent next Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 White House event from occurring. The two claim that the event is part of “a corrupt scheme to hand the White House South Lawn and Lincoln Memorial to a private, for-profit sports promoter in violation of federal law.”
An organization calling itself the Public Integrity Project filed the lawsuit on behalf of the individuals. The plaintiffs are Paul Romano, a retired Air Force Sargeant and Vietnam veteran and Susan Douglas, a longtime civic activist.
The press release accompanying the lawsuit highlights that the president purchased “up to $50,000 in UFC parent company TKO stock earlier this spring, while White’s company is selling VIP packages for $1.5 million each, and benefiting from what one TKO executive [Mark Shapiro]called “the greatest earned-marketing tool of all time.” They also point out that for people to watch, it must pay the Paramount+ subscription fee.
The lawsuit identifies three causes of action which it claims is unlawful for the administration to carry out the event at the White House and weigh-ins at the Lincoln Memorial. It cites a violation of the National Park Service regulations which prohibit sports events on the grounds. It notes that the UFC is planning the event. It also points to the “claw,” the overhang structure that is intended to provide some shelter and lights for the Sunday’s festivities. The plaintiffs cite a federal code that “no structure may be erected on federal parklands in the District of Columbia without express congressional authorization.” There is no evidence showing such authority was exercised or even a request for the structure. Finally, the National Environmental Policy Act is cited to the fact that there has been no environmental impact assessment for the repairs that are anticipated for the White House lawn.
It is expected that the lawsuit will seek an injunction from the event from happening. But, as we know with this administration, they do what they please regardless of whether something is against the law or not.
The next step for the plaintiffs is to seek the injunction this week and an expedited hearing will occur this week. It has to show four primary things for a Court to issue an injunction: 1) they will be irreparably harmed if the injunction is not issued, 2) they must show that they are likely to win the case on its merits, 3) the balance of hardships favors the plaintiffs and 4) it is in the public’s interest. The one issue that plaintiffs may have here is a showing of being irreparably harmed. The key legal words to spot to show irreparable harm is it is “imminent, certain, and cannot be adequately remedied by monetary damages.” This may be a hard hurdle for plaintiffs since money damages (paying to replace the lawn) could easily remedy the situation. As for the disregard of governmental protocols in handling the event, it would be difficult to determine what a Court might do.
MPO will keep you up to date on this lawsuit this week.
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