Trump Administration Claims Privilege in Kennedy Center Case

The Trump administration has formally invoked presidential communications privilege to withhold records and limit testimony about President Donald Trump’s involvement in the management and operations of the Kennedy Center, escalating a dispute in Rep. Joyce Beatty’s lawsuit. A federal judge has not ruled on whether the privilege applies to the requested material. White House deputy counsel Joshua Hoyt invoked the privilege in a court filing on Wednesday, October 14. His declaration says it covers communications among Trump, his advisers and Kennedy Center staff concerning the institution’s management and operations, including some exchanges involving Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The administration argues that Trump’s responsibility to appoint the Center’s trustees and members of its Advisory Committee on the Arts requires him to stay informed about the institution. Hoyt said in the declaration that disclosure could discourage advisers from offering candid recommendations. The administration has also argued that Beatty has not shown a sufficient need for the material. Beatty, an ex officio member of the Center’s board, is seeking information as she challenges the board’s...