"Elliot Berke, the general counsel for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, tried to book his own cover band, the DePlorables, to play at the Center's rooftop Speakeasy. This raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest."
"The Kennedy Center's official statement claimed that programmers asked Berke about performing, but he did not think the band was the right genre and did not want the Speakeasy to be viewed as a vanity project for center employees."
"Berke also reportedly advocated for booking the British prog-rock band Yes, which he represents, but sources say he avoided directly engaging with the band during negotiations to sidestep the appearance of impropriety."
Elliot Berke, general counsel for the Kennedy Center, sought to book his cover band, the DePlorables, for a performance at the Speakeasy venue. This request was rejected due to potential conflict of interest concerns. The Kennedy Center later stated that Berke believed the band was not the right fit for the venue. Additionally, Berke advocated for booking the band Yes, which he represents, but avoided direct engagement during negotiations to prevent impropriety. Ultimately, Yes declined the offer.
Read at Above the Law
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