Trump Organization sues City of NYC for axing its contract to run Bronx golf club in wake of January 6 riots and claims Mayor Bill de Blasio's decision to do so was 'politically motivated'
The Trump Organization sued New York City on Monday for cancelling its contract to run a golf course in the Bronx earlier this year, a move it said was politically motivated by Mayor Bill de Blasio's disdain for the former president.
Their lawsuit, filed in state court, says nothing in the 566-page contract gave New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio the right to terminate the deal after the president's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
Lawyers for the Trump organization have demanded that it be allowed to continue to run the course, which has dramatic views of the Manhattan skyline, or that the city pay millions of dollars to buy them out.
Trump's stewardship of the golf course is scheduled to end in November this year, but his lawyers want the organization's tenure to be extended indefinitely.
The Trump Organization sued New York City on Monday for cancelling its contract to run a golf course in the Bronx earlier this year, a move it called ''politically motivated' with no basis in the law that should be reversed
The Trump Golf Links golf club is pictured at Ferry Point in the Bronx borough of New York City, after the city severed several contracts with the Trump Organization in New York, U.S., January 14, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo
The Trump Organization has managed the Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx borough since it opened in 2015.
'De Blasio had a 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,' according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit is the opening shot in what is expected to be a protracted, and possibly costly, fight between the city and the Trump Organization, according to several lawyers who reviewed the contract and experts familiar with the business practices of the litigious former U.S. president.
'Mayor de Blasio´s actions are purely politically motivated, have no legal merit, and are yet another example of the mayor´s efforts to advance his own partisan agenda and interfere with free enterprise,' the Trump Organization said in a statement.
The Trump Organization said the move was politically motivated and should be reversed. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. pose for photos during a ribbon cutting event for a new clubhouse at Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in The Bronx, pictured in 2018
Contractors put the finishing touches on the clubhouse at the Trump Links golf course in the Bronx. The course was the first new golf facility in New York City since the 1960's
The city said Trump was clearly in breach of the contract terms and it will 'vigorously defend' its decision.
When de Blasio announced he was kicking Trump off the course in January, he cited Trump´s 'criminal action' in inciting Capitol rioters, arguing that he could fire him 'for cause' and not pay him a dime.
The firing was part of a backlash against Trump after the Jan. 6 violence. Insurers, banks and brokers also refused to do any future business with the former president's company.
The city has also cited a decision by the PGA of America to cancel a tournament that was going to be held at one of Trump's golf courses in New Jersey.
The city said that Trump could no longer argue he can attract prestigious tournaments to the Bronx course, called Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, as is required in the contract following the negative publicity surrounding the Capitol riot.
The company is demanding to be allowed to continue to run the course, which has dramatic views of the Manhattan skyline, or that the city pay millions of dollars. Pictured, President Donald Trump plays golf at Trump National Golf Club, on Thanksgiving 2020 following his election loss
The Trump Organization says the contract did not require it to attract tournaments.
In its lawsuit Wednesday, the Trump Organization said the contract doesn´t require it to attract tournaments, only obliging it maintain a course that is 'first-class, tournament quality.'
It attached letters from course designers, golf organizations and famous golfers including top-ranked players Dustin Johnson and U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau saying the course met that standard.
The city has previously argued that the Trump Organization was being 'overly restrictive' in its interpretation of the phrase 'first-class, tournament quality,' saying it need only show that Trump is incapable of attracting tournaments for whatever reason.
The lawsuit says nothing in the 566-page contract gave NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio the right to terminate the deal after president's supporters stormed the US Capitol
Under terms of the contract, New York City can terminate its deal with Trump at any time without cause, but would be obligated to compensate his company for money it invested in building a clubhouse on the course.
Trump´s son Eric, who lashed out at the city decision as a part of cancel culture earlier this year, has said the city would have to pay more than $30 million, a figure cited again in the lawsuit.
After the attack on the Capitol, the city also ended contracts with the Trump Organization to run two skating rinks and a carousel in Central Park.
Trump's supporters gather outside the Capitol building in Washington D.C., United States on January 06, 2021. Lawmakers were forced to go into hiding for several hours as Capitol police grappled to take back control while the mob rioted in the Senate and House
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