Despite objections from Justice Department lawyers, a federal judge said Friday that an inquiry into the conduct of Trump administration lawyers in the East Potomac Golf Links case would proceed — either through a special master or under the judge’s own supervision.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes identified Jessie K. Liu, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia during President Donald Trump’s first term, as a potential special master to examine whether government lawyers had complied with their ethical obligations in their handling of court-ordered notice requirements and explanations for tree-cutting work at East Potomac.
The government argued in a filing Thursday that no ethics inquiry was warranted and that Reyes could not appoint a special master without its consent. It said such appointments are reserved for narrow circumstances and that Reyes or a magistrate judge could handle any inquiry herself.
But the judge made clear Friday that the inquiry remained on the table and that she was also prepared to conduct the review herself if needed.
“The court doesn’t want to do this,” she said, “but I have an obligation to ensure that representations made to a federal court are made in good faith and consistent with ethical rules.”
Reyes did not decide Friday whether to appoint a special master but said she was taking the underlying concerns seriously.
Reyes is expected to rule Saturday on preservation groups’ emergency request to stop the Park Service from closing East Potomac and surrounding parkland after Sunday’s final rounds.
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