Judge moves to probe whether officials misled her in Trump golf case
Judge Ana Reyes proposed former U.S. attorney Jessie Liu to examine possible government misconduct in the East Potomac Golf Links case.
Developing story. Details may change as more information is confirmed.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said Saturday that she intends to appoint former U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu as a special master in the lawsuit over the Trump administration's renovation plans for East Potomac Golf Links in Washington.
The proposed appointment would allow an outside investigator to examine whether government lawyers and officials misled the court or violated ethical rules. It is a proposal for an inquiry, not a finding that misconduct occurred, and Liu has not been described here as already formally appointed.
Liu served as the top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia during Trump's first term. Reyes is giving the parties an opportunity to respond to her proposed selection before the matter proceeds.
The underlying lawsuit was brought in February by preservationists and golfers challenging changes to the historic public course. Disputes intensified over tree removal and the government's explanations of its renovation and closure plans.
Reyes announced on October 30 that she would open a formal investigation into the government's conduct. Saturday's new development was her identification of Liu as the person she intends to appoint to assist that work.
The administration plans to close the course and park on November 15 to pursue a championship-level golf facility. A court order limits irreversible alterations while the lawsuit remains active. The legal dispute therefore involves both the proposed redevelopment and the separate question of how officials represented their actions to the judge. Both questions remain unresolved.
This summary is original reporting by tehworldnews, written after checking the facts against several major international news outlets and official statements.