Judge opens misconduct inquiry into Trump officials in golf course case

A federal judge announced on Friday that she is initiating an investigation into potential misrepresentations and ethical breaches by government officials and lawyers in proceedings concerning President Trump's proposed renovations to the historic East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes stated during a hearing that she will personally conduct the inquiry, with the assistance of a neutral arbiter known as a special master, to determine if misconduct occurred.

The judge intends to investigate several issues, including allegations of bad faith in a notice regarding tree removals at the golf course, and whether government lawyers instructed key individuals to include or exclude certain information in declarations related to the project. Another aspect of the inquiry focuses on statements made by Justice Department lawyers regarding the administration's plan to close East Potomac Park by November 15, 2022.

The judge has not yet appointed a special master and has given the Justice Department five days to object to her decision to name one. The case, brought by a local preservation league and two local golfers, challenges the Trump administration's plans for the public golf course, which has been in operation since the 1920s. Despite repeated assurances from Department of Interior officials and Justice Department lawyers that there is no finalized plan, President Trump announced on October 18 that the Department of Interior and architect Tom Fazio had developed a plan to build a championship golf course on the site, with construction set to begin on November 15.