Judge Opens Misconduct Probe in Trump's East Potomac Golf Course Fight

President Trump wants to overhaul the public golf course at East Potomac Park in Washington. The project would turn it into a championship golf course, according to NYT Politics.

The legal fight intensified after workers removed hundreds of trees. NDTV News reported that at least 400 were cut over a holiday weekend with little notice to the plaintiffs. The reported totals differ: The Hindu put the number at more than 500.

On October 27, coverage described an extended court order stopping further tree removal and restricting other alterations. NPR Politics reported that the government was barred from clearing more trees or making other changes without proper notice.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes also challenged the government's account of its plans. According to NBC News, she noted that Trump's social media posts contradicted sworn testimony from multiple government officials.

Trump responded by calling the ruling unconstitutional and pledging an immediate appeal, Forbes reported. He also said East Potomac would close on November 15 despite the court's intervention, according to NPR.

On October 28, Reyes ordered another hearing after Trump vowed to proceed with redevelopment, The Hill reported. The following day, the government said in a court filing that it would meet his November 15 deadline to close East Potomac Park for the project, according to NYT Politics.

Trump also claimed a White House staffer had been struck by a golf ball and said he would hold the judge responsible for injuries or deaths at the course, Forbes reported on October 29. That was the president's claim, not a court finding about conditions at the facility.

By October 30, the dispute had widened. The Hill reported that Reyes opened an investigation into concerns that the administration had lied to her during the litigation.

The latest development is an investigation into potential Justice Department misconduct, not a finding that misconduct occurred. The Hill described the inquiry as examining concerns that the administration misled the judge about the redevelopment plans.

The government has committed in court to the November 15 closure, according to NYT Politics. Separately, the temporary order stops the government from removing or harming further trees, The Independent reported. The announced closure does not itself resolve the restrictions on work at the site.

The immediate questions are what the misconduct investigation establishes and how the government explains the differences between its court representations and Trump's public statements. NBC News reported the judge's concern about those contradictions before the inquiry opened.

November 15 is the next concrete deadline. Watch whether the government carries out the announced closure and what work, if any, the court permits. Trump has pledged an appeal, according to Forbes, but the supplied coverage does not establish its outcome.