Judge to appoint special master to determine whether Trump lawyers purposely misled her over golf course

Federal Judge Ana Reyes has announced her intention to appoint former U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu as a special master to investigate whether federal officials, including those from the Department of Interior, National Park Service, and the Department of Justice, misled her during a civil lawsuit challenging renovations to East Potomac golf course in Washington D.C.

Liu, who served under President Trump during his first term, will determine if the government violated ethics or misled her regarding the extent of renovation plans. The lawsuit, initiated in February by the DC Preservation League and two golfers, centers around the administration's plan to close and replace the public golf facility with a high-end course.

A temporary injunction issued by Reyes last month prevents the government from removing or damaging additional trees and requires written 10-day notice before any irreversible modifications to the course. Judge Reyes seeks clarification on federal officials' accuracy in reporting renovation plans and actions taken, such as tree removal.

Liu's appointment is seen as a possible way to resolve disputes and potentially lead to contempt charges if proper processes are not followed. Meanwhile, President Trump made a series of controversial posts on social media, accusing Democrats of threatening individuals in his administration and extorting Republican donors.