Judge orders ethics probe into Trump’s Washington golf course project

Investing.com -- A federal judge has appointed a former top prosecutor to investigate possible ethical misconduct by Trump administration lawyers defending President Donald Trump’s plans to renovate a historic public golf course in Washington.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes named Jessie Liu, a former U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, as special master on Friday to examine the conduct of Justice Department and Interior Department attorneys in litigation over East Potomac Golf Links.

The appointment follows an October 30 hearing at which Reyes ordered an ethics investigation, questioning whether government lawyers had misrepresented the administration’s intentions to proceed with renovations despite a temporary court order blocking the project.

Trump had said construction would begin immediately, contradicting assurances government officials had given the court, according to the judge. Reyes also challenged attorneys’ attempts to persuade her to discount the president’s public statements about the project.

The inquiry adds a separate dispute over the government’s representations to the court to a lawsuit initially focused on the legality of redeveloping the publicly accessible course.

Liu served as Washington’s chief federal prosecutor during Trump’s first administration and oversaw the criminal prosecution of Roger Stone, a longtime Trump associate. She later worked in private practice before establishing a law firm with two other former prosecutors in April.

The Interior Department criticized Reyes following the appointment, accusing her of political bias and opposing the president’s efforts to improve the capital.

Trump wants to turn the East Potomac course into a high-end golf destination as part of a broader effort to reshape prominent public spaces in Washington.

The underlying lawsuit was brought by a nonprofit organization and two Washington residents. They argue that the proposed reconstruction of East Potomac Park, including the golf course, violates environmental requirements and a congressional preservation law.

The special master’s assignment concerns the conduct of government lawyers, rather than a final determination on whether the renovation itself can proceed.