Court Orders Kennedy Center to Pay Drummer $250,000 In Fees

In a ruling on Tuesday, a Washington, D.C. judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to pay jazz drummer Chuck Redd $252,479.70 in legal fees after the center lost a lawsuit against him. The judge deemed the $252,479.70 figure a "good faith evaluation" of the costs Redd incurred while defending himself in the meritless legal action. Redd's attorney, Lisa J. Banks, expressed satisfaction with the judge's decision, stating that citizens should not have to face the financial burden of baseless and politically motivated lawsuits.

In December, Trump allies took control of the Kennedy Center's leadership and changed its name to include Trump's moniker, prompting Redd to withdraw from the upcoming Christmas concert, which he had organized since 2006. The Kennedy Center subsequently sued Redd in March when he refused to perform, claiming he breached a contract.

However, in June, Judge Tanya Jones Bosier dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that no contract existed between the two parties. This latest ruling adds to the growing list of setbacks for Trump's Kennedy Center regime, including a May federal court decision finding Trump's addition of his name to the venue to be illegal, and the subsequent halting of a closure for renovations and a closure for renovations.