A federal judge ended a hearing Monday regretting that she could not yet punish President Donald Trump’s officials, saying the government “can’t be trusted” after it cut hundreds of trees despite ongoing court proceedings.
U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes spoke as she closed an emergency hearing on the National Park Service’s weekend removal of trees at East Potomac Golf Course in Washington, Washington Sun reporter Reese Gorman reported.
Preservationists and golfers asked Reyes to halt the cutting, which they argue clears the way for Trump’s planned overhaul of the course, court records show.
“Because we are talking now about potential multiple misrepresentations to the court. And the only reason, the only reason I have not yet entered a show cause on contempt is because I never put this in a formal order, which believe me now, I am regretting,” Reyes said, according to Gorman.
A show cause order would require officials to explain why they should not be held in contempt of court, which is how judges punish people who defy their orders. Reyes entered a formal order earlier in the hearing halting all tree removal at the course, court records show.
“If that order is violated by two seconds, there are going to be contempt proceedings,” Reyes warned, according to Politico’s Kyle Cheney. “So now we’re all gonna have a massive fire drill because the government can’t be trusted.”
“What has happened has cost the government all credibility with me in this case,” Reyes told government lawyers earlier in the hearing, Gorman reported.
Government lawyers told Reyes they learned of the possible tree removal on Oct. 7 but did not tell the court until late Oct. 9, saying they lacked specific details, Gorman reported. Workers were cutting by 8 a.m. the next day, according to the plaintiffs’ emergency motion.
“Ignorance is not an excuse here,” Reyes replied, according to Gorman.
The government said 430 trees came down over the weekend, and Kevin Griess, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks, testified there were “no identified hazardous or safety concern trees” among them, WUSA9’s Eric Flack reported.
“OK, so this is just we’re getting rid of trees,” Reyes responded, according to Flack.
Frank Lands, the Park Service’s deputy director for operations, testified under oath that the order to start cutting came from Greg Wischer, deputy chief of staff to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Flack reported.
Lands testified he was told on Oct. 5 to carry out the plan “as soon as practical,” but when Reyes asked why the work “had to be done urgently,” he said he did not know a reason, MeidasTouch Network’s Scott MacFarlane reported.
Wischer had become a key figure in Trump’s building projects and events in Washington, and Trump had named him on Truth Social at least 17 times since May, Public Domain reported last month. Flack reported that Wischer accompanied Trump on a June tour of the golf course.
Over the government’s objection, Reyes ordered Wischer, the official Lands named under oath, to testify Tuesday so she can learn whether she was lied to, Gorman reported.
“I’m beyond disappointed in the government right now,” Reyes said, according to MacFarlane.
Reyes extended her order halting tree removal, known as a temporary restraining order, until 2 p.m. Tuesday, Gorman reported. She said she would grant a request requiring 72 hours’ notice to the court and the plaintiffs before any future work on the course.
After Wischer testifies, Reyes will decide whether to extend the order further, MacFarlane reported.
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