Notable Quotes
"No president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in," complaint language now before Leon.
"The nation's top historic preservation group that sued over the project hadn't shown how it was being irreparably harmed by the construction in a way that required immediate court intervention," Leon's reasoning for denying TRO (reported).
"If there's any 'below-ground' construction that might take place over the next two weeks that could affect the above-ground portion of the ballroom, the administration should be 'prepared to take it down,'" Leon's warning to the White House (reported).
"I see no basis" in law for using gift authority to raise $400 million for the ballroom—'None. Zero,' Judge Leon to Justice Department lawyer at Jan 22 hearing.
The $400M private-funding mechanism is a 'Rube Goldberg contraption,' Judge Leon at Jan 22 hearing.
Leon told the DOJ that maintenance law is 'not (for) $400 million worth of destruction and construction.'