Ex-Trump lawyer flags 'significant' move John Roberts made against the White House

One of President Donald Trump's former attorneys flagged a "significant position" the Supreme Court took in its most recent ruling to allow the Trump administration to continue building the White House ballroom for now.

Ty Cobb, who served as special counsel in the first Trump administration, told CNN's Erin Burnett on "OutFront" that Chief Justice John Roberts "eviscerated" the Trump administration's position in his blistering dissent. The dissent also showed that Roberts is willing to use his seat as an "impediment to Trump if and when he can, and when the Constitution permits it," Cobb added.

"he made it plain thatit was likely illegal," Cobb said. "I think actually that's a significant ruling and a position by him because he quoted Churchill at his aspirational best and reallyeviscerated theadministration's position andjustifications for why they weredoing this."

On Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump can continue building the White House ballroom because the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the nonprofit that sued to stop construction, lacked standing to challenge the project.

Roberts argued in his dissent that the 5-4 decision ignored a glaring issue — Congress had not passed a law allowing the construction to occur.

Cobb said the ruling was unlikely to slow construction of the ballroom.

"It's tragic what'sgoing on, but sadly, it's goingto continue, at least for thetime being," he said.