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Beatty seeks court order forcing Trump administration to release withheld Kennedy Center records

Plaintiffs' lawyers say a records list suggests frequent presidential contact on center closure plans; the judge has not ruled.

Updated Oct 25, 2026 · 22:06 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • Attorneys for Rep. Joyce Beatty asked a federal judge to order the Trump administration to release emails and texts it has withheld as privileged presidential communications.[Associated Press · The Washington Sun]
  • Plaintiffs' lawyers say a list of records suggests Trump has been in near-constant contact with Kennedy Center management, directly or through intermediaries.[Associated Press · The Washington Sun]
  • The withheld list reportedly includes 19 texts between CEO Matt Floca and Natalie Harp, and about 180 texts between Floca and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.[Associated Press · The Washington Sun]
  • U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper has not yet ruled, and the White House did not immediately comment; the court's decision is the next step.[Associated Press · The Washington Sun]

Key facts

  • Attorneys for Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty asked a federal judge to compel the Trump administration to disclose emails and texts it has withheld.[Associated Press · The Washington Sun]
  • Plaintiffs' lawyers say a list of records in the Kennedy Center's possession suggests Trump has been in near-constant contact with center management, directly or through intermediaries.[Associated Press · The Washington Sun]
  • The withheld list includes 19 text messages between CEO Matt Floca and Trump executive assistant Natalie Harp, 11 of them sent on Sept. 15, when the board voted to close the center, according to Beatty's lawyers.[Associated Press · The Washington Sun]
  • The list also includes approximately 180 center-related texts between Floca and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whom Beatty's lawyers describe as acting as a go-between for Trump.[Associated Press · The Washington Sun]
  • U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper did not immediately rule on the request, and the White House did not immediately comment on the filing.[Associated Press · The Washington Sun]

What remains uncertain

  • The plaintiffs' characterization of the records as showing near-constant presidential contact is their own reading and has not been tested by the court.[Associated Press · The Washington Sun]
  • Whether the presidential communications privilege covers the withheld records is contested and has not been decided by the court.[Associated Press · The Washington Sun]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.