Judge rejects legal effort to cancel White House's UFC event
ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos • • general
Key Points:
- A federal judge ruled that the White House can host an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the South Lawn this weekend, rejecting a request to block the event brought by two Virginia residents.
- Judge Amit Mehta found the plaintiffs lacked standing and failed to demonstrate irreparable harm, dismissing claims that the event violated National Park Service regulations and lacked proper environmental review.
- The plaintiffs argued the event's temporary arena was unsightly and disrupted their enjoyment of the capital, but the judge determined they were not directly affected and criticized the delay in filing the lawsuit.
- The government argued the event's authorization was lawful and comparable to other White House events, warning that canceling now would cause substantial harm due to extensive planning and costs.
- Lawyers opposing the event labeled it a "corrupt spectacle," but the Department of Justice dismissed these claims, emphasizing that the public interest does not support a last-minute legal block.