WASHINGTON — A federal judge announced Saturday that she intends to appoint a former top federal prosecutor from Donald Trump’s first administration to examine whether government lawyers committed ethical violations and misled the court regarding a contentious golf course overhaul in the nation’s capital.
U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes issued an order giving notice of her plan to name Jessie K. Liu as an independent special master. Liu, who served as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia between 2017 and 2020, would be tasked with reviewing the conduct of attorneys from the Department of Justice and officials with the Department of the Interior.
Reyes, a Joe Biden appointee, is seeking to determine whether federal representatives gave false statements regarding the timing and scope of construction plans at the East Potomac Golf Course, CNN reported.
Dispute Over Public Park and Tree Removals
The underlying civil lawsuit was initiated in February by the D.C. Preservation League alongside two local golfers. The plaintiffs sought to block an ambitious administration initiative to transform the municipal course and surrounding East Potomac Park along the Potomac River into a championship-caliber venue capable of hosting elite tournaments.
While Reyes initially hesitated to intervene in park management decisions, relations between the bench and federal lawyers soured dramatically in early October. The Interior Department abruptly clear-cut hundreds of trees — plaintiffs and court records cited between 400 and 529 trees felled — after giving the court less than a day of warning.
The administration insisted the removals were routine maintenance independent of the redesign, an assertion Reyes treated with open disbelief. During a three-hour hearing last month, Reyes said the government had eroded its credibility before the court, remarking that she was “beyond disappointed with the government,” according to CNN.
Reyes subsequently issued an injunction halting any further removal or destruction of trees. The order mandated that the government supply at least 10 days of written notice prior to making any permanent physical alterations to the historic recreation area while the case moves forward.
Special Master Role and Next Steps
The proposed special master, Liu, previously held multiple high-ranking posts within the Justice Department, including roles focusing on civil rights and national security, before becoming a partner in private practice. During her tenure as the capital’s chief federal prosecutor, her office handled matters stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry into the 2016 Trump campaign.
David Super, a law professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, told The Guardian that bringing in a special master to review legal behavior often serves as “a precursor to holding someone in contempt of court.” Super observed that the inquiry highlights the court’s struggle to ascertain who directed the tree cutting despite assurances provided by federal counsel.
Tensions remain high as the White House targets a Nov. 15 closure date for East Potomac Park to start extensive construction work. Formal plans submitted late last month showed the project would absorb popular picnic grounds and a cherry-blossom-lined bike path at Hains Point directly into the expanded golf links.
The government previously sought unsuccessfully to force Reyes off the case. Under the judge’s Saturday directive, both sides have until Nov. 13 to submit written filings on the prospective appointment of Liu, with the next court hearing scheduled for that same day.
