Trump Sues NYC Over Losing Bronx Golf Course After Jan. 6 Riot

New York City NY

22 June, 2021

10:42 AM

Description

NEW YORK CITY — The Trump Organization sued New York City over losing a contract in the fallout of the U.S. Capitol riot to run a city-owned golf course in the Bronx. The lawsuit filed Monday claims Mayor Bill de Blasio long wanted to sever the city's contracts with the company because of his political animus against former President Donald Trump. "The City did breach the implied obligation of good faith and fair dealing in that the City's claim of breach is pretextual," the lawsuit states. "More specifically, Mayor de Blasio had a pre existing, politically-based predisposition to terminate Trump-related contracts, and the City used the events of January 6, 2021 as a pretext to do so." De Blasio, for his part, said Trump "inciting an insurrection" on Jan. 6 forfeited his right to do business with the city. He canceled the city's remaining Trump contracts for the Central Park Carousel, the Wollman and Lasker skating rinks and Ferry Point Golf Course. New York City doesn't do business with insurrectionists. We're taking steps to TERMINATE agreements with the Trump Organization to operate the Central Park Carousel, Wollman and Lasker skating rinks, and the Ferry Point Golf Course.— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) January 13, 2021 The lawsuit itself does not dispute Trump's role in the riot, for which he was impeached a second time. Instead, the lawsuit focuses on city parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver's claim when severing the contracts that the Trump Organization could no longer live up to its promises of operating a golf course capable of attracting professional, tournament-quality events. An assortment of golf luminaries, including Dustin Johnson, provided statements that the golf course can continue to host such events in the future, according to the lawsuit. De Blasio's spokesperson Bill Neidhardt, in a statement, cast the city's position as simple. "Donald Trump directly incited a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol," he tweeted. "You do that, and you lose the privilege of doing business with the City of New York. It's as simple as that." Donald Trump directly incited a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. You do that, and you lose the privilege of doing business with the City of New York. It's as simple as that. https://t.co/qEwcAuszaf— Bill Neidhardt (@BNeidhardt) June 21, 2021