A seat at the table, but no vote yet for a Democratic lawmaker in the Kennedy Center board showdown

A federal judge ruled on Saturday that a Democratic lawmaker is entitled to participate at a board meeting for discussing President Donald Trump's plan to close down the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for two years of renovations. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper concluded that the board must give Beatty documents about the closure and renovation plans because withholding that information before the vote would prevent her from doing her job as a trustee. “The Court finds, however, that Beatty has not carried her burden as to her right to vote, at least at this very early stage,” Cooper said.