Judge opens inquiry into whether Trump officials misled court in D.C. golf course case

Updated on: October 30, 2026 / 2:23 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — A federal judge on Friday said she is opening an inquiry into whether government officials and lawyers made misrepresentations to the court and violated ethics rules during proceedings over President Trump's plans to renovate a historic golf course in Washington, D.C.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said during a hearing she will conduct the examination herself, but will be assisted by a special master, a neutral arbiter, to determine whether officials and lawyers at the Departments of Justice and Interior engaged in misconduct.

The judge said she will examine several issues, including whether a notice filed to her court about impending tree removals at East Potomac Golf Links was done in bad faith. Justice Department lawyers informed the court about the felling hours before crews began cutting down hundreds of trees at the course earlier this month.

Reyes will look into whether government lawyers instructed Jessica Bowron, the acting director of the National Park Service, to omit certain information from a declaration about potential plans to overhaul the golf course. She will also examine whether government lawyers told Kevin Griess, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/