Judge wants ex-U.S. attorney to probe whether DOJ misled her in golf course case

A federal judge said Saturday she intends to appoint Jessie Liu, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, to investigate whether she was purposefully misled in the lawsuit over the East Potomac golf course in Washington ¹. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes would name Liu a special master, an outside official who helps a judge with a task ¹.

Liu would examine whether officials at the Interior Department and the National Park Service, and attorneys at the Justice Department, violated ethics rules or misled the court ¹. The case was filed in February by the DC Preservation League and two golfers ¹.

What the judge wants to know

Reyes wants to know whether federal officials lied about the extent of the renovation plans during months of hearings ¹. She also wants to know whether they were truthful about steps they took, including cutting hundreds of trees early last month ¹. A photo caption in the AP report says the administration cut down more than 400 trees ¹.

She announced a formal investigation at an Oct. 30 hearing ¹. CBS News reported that she stressed there has been no finding of wrongdoing ². Earlier in the case, the AP reports, Reyes had rejected numerous requests from the plaintiffs to step in, saying she trusted the government attorneys ¹.

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The hearings grew tense after President Donald Trump began posting on Truth Social on Oct. 18 about plans for the course ¹. Administration officials could not confirm those plans when Reyes questioned them, and she eventually asked whom she should trust ¹. The Justice Department filed notice Oct. 28 that the plans were real ¹.

CBS News reported that Interior and Justice officials had repeatedly told Reyes there was no finalized plan, including earlier in October ². It also reported that the inquiry covers whether a notice about tree removals was filed in bad faith ². The Justice Department told the court about the felling hours before crews began cutting ².

What happens next

Each side may respond in writing to the plan to name Liu by Friday, when the next hearing is scheduled ¹. The administration plans to close the course and park Nov. 15 to build what it calls a "World Class, championship-level golf course that is capable of hosting major events" ¹. Trump has said the park would be closed for 15 months ¹.

An injunction Reyes issued last month bars the government from removing or damaging more trees while the lawsuit is active ¹. It also requires 10 days' written notice before any "irreparable modification" to the course ¹.

Liu oversaw some matters referred to her office by then-special counsel Robert Mueller ¹. Trump later nominated her for associate attorney general, but she withdrew after opposition on the Senate Judiciary Committee ¹.

can be a precursor to holding someone in contempt of court.

That matters because courts depend on the government to tell them the truth. A judge who has to ask whom to trust cannot easily decide a case, and any finding here would come only after both sides are heard.

The Record

1. Oct 18, 2026Trump begins posting on Truth Social about plans for the East Potomac course ¹.
2. Oct 28, 2026The Justice Department files notice that the renovation plans are real ¹.
3. Oct 30, 2026Judge Ana Reyes announces a formal investigation of the government's conduct ¹².
4. Nov 7, 2026Reyes says she intends to appoint Jessie Liu as special master ¹.

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<h2>Judge wants ex-U.S. attorney to probe whether DOJ misled her in golf course case</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Courts Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/judge-wants-ex-u-s-attorney-to-probe-whether-doj-misled-her-in-golf-course-case">The GOP Files</a> on Saturday, November 7, 2026.</em></p> <p>A federal judge said Saturday she intends to appoint Jessie Liu, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, to investigate whether she was purposefully misled in the lawsuit over the East Potomac golf course in Washington . U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes would name Liu a special master, an outside official who helps a judge with a task .</p> <p>Liu would examine whether officials at the Interior Department and the National Park Service, and attorneys at the Justice Department, violated ethics rules or misled the court . The case was filed in February by the DC Preservation League and two golfers .</p> <h2>What the judge wants to know</h2> <p>Reyes wants to know whether federal officials lied about the extent of the renovation plans during months of hearings . She also wants to know whether they were truthful about steps they took, including cutting hundreds of trees early last month . A photo caption in the AP report says the administration cut down more than 400 trees .</p> <p>She announced a formal investigation at an Oct. 30 hearing . CBS News reported that she stressed there has been no finding of wrongdoing . Earlier in the case, the AP reports, Reyes had rejected numerous requests from the plaintiffs to step in, saying she trusted the government attorneys .</p> <p>The hearings grew tense after President Donald Trump began posting on Truth Social on Oct. 18 about plans for the course . Administration officials could not confirm those plans when Reyes questioned them, and she eventually asked whom she should trust . The Justice Department filed notice Oct. 28 that the plans were real .</p> <p>CBS News reported that Interior and Justice officials had repeatedly told Reyes there was no finalized plan, including earlier in October . It also reported that the inquiry covers whether a notice about tree removals was filed in bad faith . The Justice Department told the court about the felling hours before crews began cutting .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Each side may respond in writing to the plan to name Liu by Friday, when the next hearing is scheduled . The administration plans to close the course and park Nov. 15 to build what it calls a &quot;World Class, championship-level golf course that is capable of hosting major events&quot; . Trump has said the park would be closed for 15 months .</p> <p>An injunction Reyes issued last month bars the government from removing or damaging more trees while the lawsuit is active . It also requires 10 days&#39; written notice before any &quot;irreparable modification&quot; to the course .</p> <p>Liu oversaw some matters referred to her office by then-special counsel Robert Mueller . Trump later nominated her for associate attorney general, but she withdrew after opposition on the Senate Judiciary Committee .</p> <blockquote><p>can be a precursor to holding someone in contempt of court.</p><p>&mdash; David Super, law professor, Georgetown University Law Center</p></blockquote> <p>That matters because courts depend on the government to tell them the truth. A judge who has to ask whom to trust cannot easily decide a case, and any finding here would come only after both sides are heard.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/judge-wants-ex-u-s-attorney-to-probe-whether-doj-misled-her-in-golf-course-case">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/judge-wants-ex-u-s-attorney-to-probe-whether-doj-misled-her-in-golf-course-case.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. AP via PBS NewsHour, “Judge wants former U.S. attorney to investigate whether the government misled her in Trump golf case” (2026-11-07). pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-wants-former-u-s-attorney-to
2. CBS News, “Judge opens inquiry into Trump officials' statements in East Potomac golf course case” (2026-10-30). cbsnews.com/news/trump-golf-course-east-potomac-judge-inquir

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