President Donald Trump is accusing the federal judge who blocked his plans for the Kennedy Center of having a serious conflict of interest, pointing to the judge’s wife and her extensive ties to high-profile Democrats, the Jan. 6 committee, and several prominent Trump adversaries.

The criticism follows a ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, an Obama appointee, who rejected efforts to rename the Kennedy Center after President Trump and halted plans tied to the administration’s broader vision for the institution.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that Cooper’s wife, attorney Amy Jeffress, has deep connections to individuals and causes aligned against him and suggested those relationships should have required the judge to step aside from the case.

Kennedy Center Ruling Sparks Conflict-of-Interest Questions

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Judge Cooper ruled on May 29 that the Kennedy Center board lacked the legal authority to rename the institution after President Trump, finding that only Congress has the power to alter the center’s official designation.

The ruling centered on the Kennedy Center’s founding statute, which dedicates the institution to President John F. Kennedy.

Trump sharply criticized the decision, arguing that Cooper’s household has longstanding ties to Democratic political figures and anti-Trump legal efforts.

“Trump Hating Judge wants to keep it open because his wife probably told him to do so!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

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The president also questioned why Amy Jeffress does not publicly use the Cooper surname, arguing that doing so would draw greater attention to what he described as potential conflicts involving her husband’s judicial role.

Judge’s Wife Has Represented Several Trump Adversaries

Jeffress previously served in the Obama Justice Department as a counselor to then-Attorney General Eric Holder before entering private practice.

Over the years, she has represented several figures who became central to investigations and controversies involving Trump.

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Among them is former FBI attorney Lisa Page, who became a prominent figure during congressional scrutiny of the FBI following the release of anti-Trump text messages exchanged with former FBI official Peter Strzok.

Jeffress represented Page during congressional investigations and later in civil litigation involving the disclosure of those communications.

She also served as outside counsel to the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 protest and advised lawmakers on legal issues involving witnesses, executive privilege claims, and evidence collection.

Current Role as Biden’s Personal Attorney Draws Scrutiny

Since July 2025, Jeffress has served as personal counsel to former President Joe Biden.

She is currently representing Biden in litigation seeking to prevent the release of transcripts and audio recordings from his interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Biden’s handling of classified documents.

Trump also highlighted Jeffress’ connection to the law firm Hecker Fink LLP, which represented E. Jean Carroll in her civil lawsuits against him.

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“Amy is totally wired into the Left System, from her husband down, and it is impossible for me to be treated fairly,” Trump wrote.

“He has a total Conflict of Interest, and should be brought up on charges for not revealing these facts.”

Previous Recusal Questions Resurface

The latest controversy is not the first time Judge Cooper has faced calls to recuse himself from a politically sensitive case.

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During Special Counsel John Durham’s prosecution of former Clinton campaign attorney Michael Sussmann, critics argued Cooper should have stepped aside because of his wife’s representation of Lisa Page, who was linked to the broader Crossfire Hurricane investigation.

Cooper declined to recuse himself and ultimately presided over the trial. While he allowed the prosecution to proceed, a jury later acquitted Sussmann following a two-week trial in 2022.

The case was part of Durham’s broader investigation into the origins of the FBI’s Crossfire Hurricane probe and allegations that federal investigators improperly targeted Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Longstanding Ties to Washington’s Legal Establishment

Judge Cooper has served on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia since 2014, after being nominated by President Barack Obama.

He and Jeffress have been married since 1999.

Their wedding was officiated by Merrick Garland, who at the time served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and later became attorney general under President Biden.

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