By Ahmed Abdelsalam
A federal judge in Washington said Friday the court will investigate whether government attorneys committed ethical violations in the dispute over the East Potomac Golf Course, the public course President Donald Trump wants to close and renovate.
Judge Opens Formal Inquiry
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes announced from the bench that the court will open a formal inquiry into whether agency officials and employees, including Justice Department attorneys, made misrepresentations to the court or violated ethical rules. Reyes said she intends to appoint a special master to assist in the inquiry.
Tree Cutting Sparks Controversy
The case stems from a lawsuit filed in February by the DC Preservation League to prevent the Interior Department from closing the historic golf course on the Potomac River. While litigation was ongoing, the government agreed to give notice about any efforts to permanently alter the course. Instead, the government gave notice at 4:55 p.m. on the Friday before a three-day weekend that it would commence cutting trees, and began work the next morning, removing more than 400 trees.
Conflicting Statements Examined
At issue was Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward's October 19 statement in an evidentiary hearing that "there is no plan to close the course" as of November 15. A week later, Trump posted on social media that the course would close on that date for renovation. Friday's hearing was scheduled to reconcile the conflicting accounts.
Special Master to Investigate
The special master, yet to be appointed, will investigate whether government lawyers, potentially including top Justice Department officials, made false statements, withheld information, failed to correct false testimony, or interfered with written testimony accuracy. The government will have an opportunity to object to the appointment.
