Judge orders inquiry into DOJ conduct in Trump golf course case
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said Friday she will open a formal inquiry into whether Justice Department and Interior Department lawyers and officials misrepresented facts to her court in the fight over President Trump's plan to remake East Potomac Golf Links in Washington.
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U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said Friday she will open a formal inquiry into whether Justice Department and Interior Department lawyers and officials misrepresented facts in the fight over President Trump's plan to remake East Potomac Golf Links, Newsweek and The Epoch Times reported. The BBC reported the inquiry will examine whether officials misrepresented the golf course plans. ABC News coverage of related Justice Department court activity also noted the escalating conflict between the department and the bench.
Newsweek reported the questions include whether a National Park Service official was told to leave details out of a court declaration and whether witnesses gave misleading testimony about how far plans to close and renovate the course had gone. The Epoch Times reported Reyes said she would either appoint a special master or conduct the probe herself.
The dispute
Trump posted that the 106-year-old course would close Nov. 15; government lawyers had told the court there was no final plan, then later said Interior was working to develop a plan around that date, according to The Epoch Times and the BBC. This month the National Park Service began cutting hundreds of trees with little notice before Reyes barred further alterations without 10 days' notice, the BBC reported.
Why it matters
The inquiry targets the conduct of Justice Department and agency officials in open court and could lead to sanctions, and the case will decide whether the course closes on the date the president announced.