Senate Democrat expands probe into Kennedy Center spending

A Senate Democrat is expanding a probe into alleged corruption within the ranks of the renowned Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, accusing its leadership of mismanaging federally appropriated funds “to the detriment” of the venue.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) wrote in a July 9 letter to Executive Director Matt Floca that he had obtained whistleblower information alleging the Kennedy Center rushed a series of renovations last year in order to meet arbitrary deadlines set by President Trump.

“In the process, longstanding federal contracting controls were set aside, no-bid contractors were awarded, and superficial cosmetic work was performed that staff warned would have to be redone,” he wrote.

The letter detailed examples from the alleged whistleblower’s disclosure about the revamp, which included repainting the building’s columns at taxpayers’ expense, awarding an $8 million no-bid flooring contract to a South Carolina firm with no known concert-hall experience and tearing out a new bathroom floor because Trump “didn’t like the color.”   

Whitehouse, an ex-officio board member, also accused the Kennedy Center leadership of........

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