President Donald Trump, pictured speaking to the press about the new East Wing and ballroom last week, said after a shooting near the White House that construction must restart on the above-ground portion of the ballroom for the safety of the president and people who work there. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo
May 25 (UPI) -- In the aftermath of a shooting near the White House over the weekend, the Department of Justice has asked a court to permit construction on the ballroom President Donald Trump seeks to build there.
In a court filing on Sunday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told a court that Trump "cannot safely conduct the business of the United States" with construction on the East Wing Project, which includes the ballroom, stalled in litigation, ABC News and CBS News reported.
On Saturday, 21-year-old Nasire Best allegedly approached a White House checkpoint, pulled a firearm from his bag and opened fire before being fatally shot by the Secret Service, law enforcement said.
The Justice Department made a similar request after a man rushed the White House Press Correspondents Association Dinner -- where Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, first lady Melania Trump and a variety of cabinet and administration members were present -- in April with a gun before being arrested by Secret Service agents.
