(WASHINGTON) — The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow construction of President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom to continue after a lower court put it on pause.

The administration on Friday asked the high court for an emergency stay of the injunction, which would halt substantial portions of the above-ground construction of the White House East Wing and ballroom while litigation plays out over its legality.

The injunction is set to take effect on Aug. 21 unless the Supreme Court acts.

The district court order would still allow below-ground construction or any other measures necessary to protect national security and the president’s safety.

Solicitor General John Sauer called the injunction “extraordinary and unlawful,” arguing that it would put the security of the president and his family at risk and override the advice of the nation’s top military, intelligence and law enforcement officials. 

“If allowed to go into effect, the injunction would wrongfully install a single district judge as sole arbiter of what further construction is ‘strictly necessary’ to protect the safety of the President, his family, staff members, and visitors to the White House, including foreign dignitaries, and presidents and prime ministers of other countries,” Sauer wrote. 

The district court concluded that President Donald Trump lacks the authority to overhaul the White House without congressional approval. A divided federal appeals court upheld the ruling earlier this month. 

In his appeal to the justices to intervene, Sauer suggested halting construction would directly put the life of the president at risk, citing six “recent assassination attempts,” including “the threat of a missile attack against Air Force One on July 8.”

“The President of the United States of America is not a tenant, but rather the sole, elected head of the Executive Branch, and Congress has authorized him to renovate, secure, and protect the White House and its grounds, as other Presidents  have been allowed to do, without exception,” he wrote. 

The government argued that it is likely to win on appeal in the case, insisting that the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacks standing to bring the lawsuit and that federal law has long allowed presidents to undertake the “care, maintenance, repair, alteration, refurbishment, and improvement … of the Executive Residence at the White House.” 

The Supreme Court is expected to seek a response from the National Trust for Historic Preservation sometime in the next week before rendering a decision on the stay. 

Sauer indicated that the administration also plans to ask the Supreme Court to take the case up for expedited oral argument and decision on the merits. 

Separately, the administration’s filing appeared to provide new details about the state of the construction operation. 

The government asserts that it is “on time” and “under budget” and that “zero taxpayer dollars are needed or required.” 

Though there is no mention of the White House’s $1 billion funding request to Congress for White House hardening and enhancements for evolving threats and technology which have been widely seen by lawmakers as related to Trump’s ballroom.

Senate Democrats on Wednesday formally asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an audit of the project and its funding.

“The scale of this project, the destruction of historic architecture, the opaque and unorthodox combination of public funds with private funding sources, and the absence of standard federal review processes raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and stewardship of this national landmark,” the lawmakers wrote.

Sauer claimed in Friday’s filing that the project is 65% complete and that $200 million has been spent or committed to date. 

He says a 250-person crew is working 20 hours a day, 7 days a week. The structure is said to be 5 stories deep and 70-feet above ground across 50,000 square feet. 

The administration’s filing also includes sworn declarations from some of the most senior officials in the government, including from the secretary of state, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as the heads of the FBI and Secret Service, in an effort to dramatically lay out the national security justifications for the ballroom.

One White House official also said in a declaration that the construction is simply too far along for the project to be safely stopped.

“[I]f work is stopped in line with the district court’s injunction, it will be a disaster,” wrote Joshua Fisher, the White House director of management and administration.  “Quite frankly, if the building were tragically ordered to be taken down, or even altered, by the court, there would be no way to do so.”

Fisher says the concrete-and-steel superstructure is now “beyond the point of no return,” adding that the freestanding walls “cannot be left as-is without being tied together with the designed structural steel.”

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(WASHINGTON) — U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Friday announced the arrest of a suspect who allegedly vandalized the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., saying in a post on social media that her office filed two felony charges against a woman, with a penalty of “up to ten years in prison.”

In the post, Pirro identified the suspect as Melissa L. Farris and said Farris is in custody. An attorney for Farris could not immediately be reached for comment.

“Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom,” Pirro wrote.

According to ABC affiliate WJLA, U.S. Park Police launched an investigation on Thursday after red paint was dumped onto the walls and floor of the Atlantic pavilion, and a substance poured into the fountain caused it to bubble.

A witness photographed a woman authorities later identified as Farris in the apparent act of spray painting the WWII Memorial on Thursday before Farris fled, according to the statement of facts filed in federal court. 

When the witness passed the images on to law enforcement, a U.S. Park Police officer recognized Farris as someone they had arrested on Aug. 10 — just a few days prior — for unlawfully camping on federal property a few blocks from the WWII Memorial, according to the complaint. 

Authorities found social media postings, including a livestream video before the alleged vandalism and another video where she allegedly admits to damaging the memorial and says she was surprised that no one immediately arrested her, according to the complaint.

“Why the [expletive] didn’t I get arrested?  You don’t think that’s weird,” she said in the video, according to court records. 

Farris is charged with depredation against property of the U.S. and destruction of a veterans’ memorial.

When asked for comment on the incident, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said: “The World War II Memorial is a sacred place to honor the service of our members of the Armed Forces and the over 400,000 Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice in WWII. The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated.”

Friends of the World War II Memorial, a group dedicated to preserving the monument, called the vandalism “unacceptable.”

“There are many places in our country for expression, debate, and disagreement. A national memorial honoring those who served and those who never returned home should never be used as a canvas for vandalism,” the group wrote in a statement.

President Donald Trump also weighed in on the incident on Thursday.

“Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals. THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

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(NEW YORK) — Alex Murdaugh appeared in a South Carolina courtroom on Friday for a hearing to work out some key issues ahead of his April 2027 retrial, including where it will take place, what evidence will be permitted, and how much of Murdaugh’s testimony from the first trial will be available to prosecutors. 

Judge Debra McCaslin agreed that Murdaugh would be unable to receive a fair retrial in Colleton County, where the original trial took place, but she has not decided on where the trial will be held.

She ruled that the trial cannot take place anywhere in the 14th Circuit, where Colleton is located. She will issue an order later on the new venue.

After the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Murdaugh’s conviction for murdering his wife and son earlier this year — citing jury tampering by the court clerk in the case — McCaslin scheduled his retrial for April 5, 2027. 

Murdaugh is pushing to dismiss the case — accusing the lead investigator of misconduct — and argues he cannot have a fair trial in some of the South Carolina counties where his family name has been “synonymous with the local legal system for nearly a century.” 

The judge did not rule on the defense’s motion to dismiss the case on Friday because prosecutors have not responded.

Defense attorney Dick Harpootlian called the Colleton County Courthouse the “scene of the crime” when it comes to the jury tampering by the Clerk of Court that triggered the new trial, calling it “poison.”

The defense has lobbied to have the trial heard in Charleston, but State Attorney Creighton Waters said the expense would be an undue financial burden for the state, saying he is a steward of taxpayer money.

Murdaugh showed little reaction to the ruling on Friday.

McCaslin said she intends to stick to the trial start date she set. In a hearing that lasted over three hours, McCaslin moved through a list of motions from both sides. 

McCaslin ruled that Murdaugh’s testimony from his prior trial may be used in the new trial, subject to what is being testified.

McCaslin will not allow the defense to use Murdaugh’s polygraph test at trial, warning that the defense could face being held in contempt or even a mistrial if the test is mentioned.

The judge also ruled that if the defense plans to use data from Murdaugh’s phone at trial, it must give prosecutors notice and access.

Both sides will work on the jury questionnaire, and the judge will directly supervise jury selection.

Citing jury tampering by Clerk of Court Becky Hill and the reason behind the retrial, the defense asked that it be privy to the full potential jury list before the trial. Harpootlian implied that Hill’s intervention in the case may have begun as early as jury selection.

The South Carolina Supreme Court in May threw out Murdaugh’s double murder conviction due to misconduct by a court clerk who communicated with some of the jurors during the trial and influenced their deliberations. 

“Both the State and Murdaugh’s defense skillfully presented their cases to the jury as the trial court deftly presided over this complicated and high-profile matter. However, their efforts were in vain because Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill placed her fingers on the scales of justice, thereby denying Murdaugh his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury,” the ruling said. 

Murdaugh’s $600,000 civil lawsuit against Hill over the matter was dismissed this month.

Murdaugh, who remains in prison because he pleaded guilty to separate financial crimes, was sentenced to 27 years on state charges and 40 years on federal charges. While he had admitted to lying to and stealing from his clients, Murdaugh has maintained his innocence related to the deaths of his wife and son. 

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(NEW YORK) — Luigi Mangione admitted to shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as he pleaded guilty Friday to two federal stalking counts.

Mangione, wearing tan prison clothes, addressed the court himself, saying, “After years of enduring severe pain from a broken back … I learned UnitedHealth would be holding an investor conference in New York City.”

“I then researched the event online. I observed the annual conference of America’s largest healthcare organization with the stated mission to make the healthcare system better for everyone,” he said.

“I traveled to New York and emailed UnitedHealthcare with the intent to kill Brian Thompson … I shot Mr. Thompson in the back,” he said, adding, “I knew what I was doing was illegal.”

Earlier in the hearing, defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo told the court, “Mr. Mangione is prepared to plead guilty to the indictment at this time,” and Mangione himself then affirmed he was prepared to plead guilty.

Members of Thompson’s family, including his wife and mother, are sitting in the front row of the courtroom, marking the first time they’re appearing in court. Thompson’s wife appeared to be crying as the hearing began. Executives from UnitedHealthcare are also in attendance.

When asked for his full name, Mangione replied, “Luigi Nicolas Mangione,” and he affirmed his age, 28, and schooling at the University of Pennsylvania.

He told the judge he took a sleep medication two days ago but said it did not cloud his judgment.

The judge asked Mangione if he understood that he’d give up his right to a trial if he pleaded guilty, and Mangione responded yes.

Federal prosecutor Dominic Gentile explained that Mangione stalked Thompson with the intent to kill him and his conduct resulted in Thompson’s death.

U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett told Mangione a guilty plea would expose him to a possible life sentence. 

“Do you understand that?” the judge asked, and Mangione replied, “yes.”

The judge confirmed there is no plea deal.

A guilty plea could complicate Mangione’s murder prosecution in state court, where trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8. His federal trial was set for Jan. 5.

Defense attorneys have already tried to dismiss the murder charges on double jeopardy grounds. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is prepared to move forward, arguing stalking and murder address different harms.

About three dozen members of the public — including at least one person who camped out in a tent overnight — lined up outside the courthouse Friday morning to try to secure a seat in the courtroom.

Mangione’s supporters are often outspoken during his hearings, but there were little-to-no demonstrators on Friday morning. And with the federal court limiting what members of the public can wear, Mangione’s supporters were not donning their normal shirts proclaiming his innocence.

Mangione is accused of gunning down Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan, and he was captured in Pennsylvania after a five-day manhunt. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that Mangione was indicted on first-degree murder charges on Dec. 17, 2024, and federal prosecutors announced separate charges of stalking and murder on Dec. 19, 2024. 

Mangione pleaded not guilty in the separate state and federal cases.

The charges in both cases have narrowed over the last year. In the federal case, Garnett in January threw out the murder and firearm charges, leaving two counts: stalking – travel in interstate commerce and stalking – use of interstate facilities.

In the state case, Judge Gregory Carro last September dismissed the first-degree murder and terrorism charges. In the state case, Mangione is still charged with murder in the second-degree, criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second-degree, and multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second-degree, third-degree and fourth-degree.

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(FREEPORT, Fla.) — Isabelle Johnson, a suspected murderer who authorities say had been using multiple disguises and identities, has been arrested and taken into custody, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.

“We got her,” officials said in a post on social media late Thursday. “Isabelle Johnson is in custody.”

Johnson, 38, has been charged with the murder of 43-year-old Jason Christopher Coulthart who was found dead in a shallow grave in June in Florida after he had gone missing in May, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators say Johnson used multiple identities to evade authorities, calling her a “master manipulator.”

Coulthart was reported missing on May 24 after he was last seen leaving the College Condominiums complex in Florida, according to the sheriff’s office.

Unidentified remains were found on a Freeport, Florida, property on June 25 — after investigators were able to identify where Coulthart’s body had been buried, according to the sheriff’s office.

A DNA match confirmed the remains were Coulthart’s in July, the sheriff’s office said.

Five others have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder, including two people accused of aiding Johnson evade investigators, the sheriff’s office said.

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(WASHINGTON) — The Kennedy Center board voted on Thursday to close the famed cultural institution for two years for renovations and to again add President Donald Trump’s name to the facade, Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio member of the board, said in a statement.

This is a developing story.

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