DOJ moves to keep White House UFC event on track after lawsuit
What's new: The filing says more than $60 million has already been spent and about 124,000 people are expected at the White House and Ellipse.
The Justice Department asked a federal judge Tuesday to throw out a lawsuit seeking to block this weekend’s UFC event at the White House, arguing the two Virginia plaintiffs lack standing and waited too long to sue. The challenge, brought by the Public Integrity Project, claims the administration improperly used an America 250 rule to bypass normal permits and environmental review for a privately organized event on public land. In its filing, the government said the card is part of the 250th anniversary celebration and compared it with other South Lawn events. It said more than 4,000 spectators are expected at the White House, including over 1,000 service members, with another 120,000 set to watch from the Ellipse.