Judge Appoints Special Master to Probe Alleged Deception in Trump Golf Course Case

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — A federal judge announced on Saturday her plans to enlist a former high-ranking capital prosecutor to investigate whether administration officials and lawyers intentionally deceived her. The inquiry stems from an ongoing legal battle over the redevelopment of a historic public golf facility located along the Potomac River.

Jessie Liu, who served as the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia during Donald Trump’s first term, is tasked with determining if the Department of Justice, the National Park Service, and the Interior Department violated ethics rules or provided false information. The litigation was originally filed in February by two golfers and the DC Preservation League.

The current Republican administration intends to shut down the East Potomac Golf Course and the adjacent park on November 15. Their goal is to establish a world-class, championship-level facility designed for major tournaments. Last month, Judge Reyes issued an injunction that currently prevents the government from damaging or removing further trees on the site. The order also requires the administration to provide written notice ten days in advance before making any irreparable changes to the course’s features while the case remains active.

Reyes, a Joe Biden appointee, is allowing both parties to submit written feedback regarding the appointment of Liu as a special master. These responses are due by Friday, ahead of the next scheduled court appearance.

The judge seeks to clarify if federal representatives were dishonest about the scope of the renovation project during months of testimony. She is also questioning the veracity of statements regarding specific actions, such as the removal of hundreds of trees early last month. During a hearing on October 30, Reyes revealed she was launching this formal probe into the government’s conduct, noting that she had previously rejected several motions from the plaintiffs because she had placed trust in the government attorneys.

Liu has a significant legal background, having overseen matters referred by special counsel Robert Mueller during the investigation into the 2016 campaign and Russia. While Trump once nominated her to be associate attorney general, she declined the position after the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee scrutinized her past involvement with a group supporting abortion rights.

David Super, a law professor at Georgetown University Law Center, suggested that the judge’s move to investigate participants’ conduct could serve as a precursor to potential contempt charges. He also noted the difficulty Reyes faced in verifying who authorized the tree-cutting despite assurances from the Department of Justice. Super argued the judge lacked the time to continue lengthy hearings and required a special master to simplify the complex issues.

The October 30 hearing followed a series of multiple social media posts from Trump indicating that construction was set to begin on November 15. These posts, which emerged around October 18, created a strained atmosphere when administration officials could not confirm the existence of such plans. Reyes eventually questioned whom she was supposed to believe.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)