A golfer passes a felled tree after the US President Donald Trump's administration cut down more than 400 trees at the historic East Potomac Golf Links last weekend, in Washington, DC, US, October 14, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
A federal judge in Washington is opening a formal inquiry into whether government lawyers made misrepresentations in court about President Donald Trump’s plans to renovate the East Potomac Park golf course.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes announced the inquiry during a hearing Friday, saying she could conduct it herself or appoint a special master to determine whether the government made false statements or otherwise violated ethics rules, reported Bloomberg Law.
The hearing came two days after the Justice Department confirmed to the court that the course and surrounding areas will close on Nov. 15. Trump had posted about the closure and renovation several times on Truth Social.
Nine days before that Oct. 28 notice, department lawyers had told the court they weren’t aware of any plans to close the course.
It’s the latest clash in a contentious case.
Reyes earlier halted tree-cutting at the course and demanded to know who ordered it, and the Justice Department failed in a bid to remove her from the case. Trump has also lashed out at the judge on social media.
Report typos and corrections to corrections@rawstory.com.
For customer support contact support@rawstory.com.
