Barack Obama Presidential Center Faces Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Amid Delays [WATCH]

Former President Barack Obama’s long-delayed presidential center in Chicago is facing fresh controversy as a black-owned subcontractor has filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against a key construction firm involved in the project.

May 12, 2015:

Celebrate Trump’s Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

The lawsuit adds to the growing list of troubles for Obama, who has been the subject of ongoing speculation regarding his marriage to former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Robert McGee, owner of the South Side-based construction firm II in One, filed a federal lawsuit this month against New York-based engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti.

McGee claims the firm owes him approximately $40 million in unpaid construction costs related to the Obama Presidential Center.

According to the lawsuit, Thornton Tomasetti allegedly subjected McGee’s company to “excessively rigorous and unnecessary inspection” and extensive paperwork, which he claims led to significant financial losses. The lawsuit also directly accuses the firm of racial discrimination.

“In a shocking and disheartening turn of events, the African American owner of a local construction company finds himself and his company on the brink of forced closure because of racial discrimination by the structural engineer of record (Thornton Tomasetti) for the construction of The Obama Presidential Center,” the lawsuit states.

McGee alleges that Thornton Tomasetti falsely accused II in One of lacking the necessary experience to handle the project while simultaneously approving work from non-minority-owned contractors.

Thornton Tomasetti has rejected the claims, arguing that delays and cost overruns were the result of the subcontractor’s performance issues.

In a February 2024 memo attached to the lawsuit, the firm included images of cracked concrete slabs and exposed rebar, asserting that McGee’s company had submitted hundreds of requests to correct mistakes in the field.

The firm further claimed it had spent “hundreds of hours reviewing, analyzing, re-designing and responding to corrective work,” and that construction issues had caused “a multitude of problems in the field.”

Obama Foundation spokeswoman Emily Bittner responded to the lawsuit, stating, “If the Foundation believed that any vendor was acting with a racist intent, we would immediately take appropriate action. We have no reason to believe that Thornton Tomasetti acted with racist intent.”

The Obama Presidential Center has encountered multiple setbacks since its groundbreaking in September 2021.

The project, originally expected to open in 2021, has been delayed due to legal challenges over its location, budget overruns, and a temporary construction halt in 2022 after a noose was discovered at the site.

August 16, 2021:

“Five years after Barack Obama chose Chicago as the site for his legacy project, construction officially began Monday on the Obama Presidential Center.” – Fox 32 Chicago

Located on Chicago’s South Side, the center is intended to serve as more than a traditional presidential library.

The planned $700 million facility will feature a museum, Obama Foundation offices, a public library, and community recreational spaces.

However, its cost has ballooned from an initial $500 million estimate, and its opening date has been pushed to 2026.

By comparison, previous presidential libraries opened significantly sooner after their respective presidencies.

Ronald Reagan’s library was completed just over 1,000 days after he left office, while Bill Clinton’s opened in 1,398 days.

The Obama Center, expected to open more than 3,100 days after his presidency ended, is set to break records for the longest delay in opening a presidential facility.

Meanwhile, Barack and Michelle Obama have continued to put on a united front amid persistent rumors about their marriage.

The former president recently issued a joint statement with Michelle regarding a deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C., using phrases such as “our hearts break” and “Michelle and I send our prayers,” which some interpreted as a subtle attempt to quash divorce speculation.

Our hearts break for the families who lost loved ones in the tragic plane and helicopter crash at DCA. Michelle and I send our prayers and condolences to everyone who is mourning today, and we’re grateful to the first responders who are doing everything they can to help under…

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 30, 2025

Michelle Obama also re-shared Barack’s statement on her social media accounts.

The couple had also recently released a joint announcement about honoring Hadiya Pendleton, a Chicago honor student who was murdered in 2013 after performing at Obama’s second inauguration.

The last public sighting of the couple together was in mid-December 2023 when they were photographed leaving a Los Angeles restaurant.

While Michelle appeared to be smiling for the cameras, Barack was seen walking behind her with a more serious expression.

Adding to the rumors, actress Jennifer Aniston was forced to publicly deny tabloid claims linking her to Obama.

The Friends star dismissed the reports as “absolutely untrue” and stated on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that she had only met Obama once and knew Michelle better.

As construction on the Obama Presidential Center continues, the legal battle with Thornton Tomasetti could further delay the project.

The lawsuit, coupled with existing controversies, underscores the difficulties Obama has faced in establishing his legacy through the long-awaited center.

With mounting legal issues, cost overruns, and continued scrutiny of his personal life, the former president is contending with challenges on multiple fronts.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.