WASHINGTON – ************’s organization is suing celebrity chef Jose Andres for backing out of a hotel project in Washington.

Andres had planned to open a restaurant at the ***** International Hotel. *****’s organization was selected by the federal government to renovate the historic Old Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue and turn it into a luxury hotel.

Andres announced last month that he was cancelling plans to open the restaurant, citing what he called *****’s disparaging comments about Mexican immigrants. Andres is an ********* from Spain.

The lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Washington says Andres’ decision has already cost *****’s organization millions of dollars. It says Andres signed a lease that obligated him to build a restaurant in the space and pay rent for 10 years.