Judge Reyes Taps Ex-US Attorney Jessie Liu to Probe Golf Course Ethics Case

WASHINGTON — A federal judge who has repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration over its planned renovation of the East Potomac Golf Links moved on Saturday to escalate the fight, saying she intends to appoint former US Attorney Jessie Liu to investigate whether government lawyers committed ethics violations in the case. The Jessie Liu ethics probe is the sharpest step yet in a dispute that began with more than 400 trees cut down in a public park.

Key Points

• District Judge Ana C. Reyes said Saturday, November 7, 2026, that she intends to appoint Jessie Liu, the former US Attorney for the District of Columbia, to investigate possible ethics violations by government lawyers.
• Reyes gave both sides until next week to respond before the appointment becomes final.
• The inquiry centres on whether government lawyers misled the court about the timing of the planned closure and renovation of the East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C.
• At a heated hearing last month, Reyes said the government had lost all credibility after more than 400 trees were removed with less than a day's notice to the court.
• The administration plans to close the course by next Sunday, November 15, but the plaintiffs have asked Reyes to block it temporarily, with a hearing set for Friday.

What Happened

In an order issued Saturday, November 7, 2026, Judge Reyes said she intends to name Liu to examine whether Justice Department and Interior Department lawyers committed "ethical violations" in the case over President Donald Trump's planned renovation of the East Potomac Golf Links. Liu served as US Attorney for the District of Columbia from 2017 to 2020.

Reyes will give both parties until next week to respond, giving the government a chance to object before the investigation begins. She has not said how long the inquiry will take or whether its findings will be made public. The order comes a week before the planned November 15 closure, which the plaintiffs are asking her to block.

Background: The East Potomac Golf Course Fight

The dispute began with the Trump administration's plan to close the East Potomac Golf Links, a public course on the Potomac River, for a 15-month championship redesign. The administration calls the course dilapidated and promises a world-class public course designed by golf architect Tom Fazio, with a planning commission review set for December 3.

The D.C. Preservation League and two golfers sued to stop the work. On October 26, Reyes issued a 70-page opinion granting a preliminary injunction barring further tree removal and requiring 10 days' written notice before other major changes; by then, more than 400 trees had already been felled. On October 29, the administration confirmed the course would close on November 15, and the Justice Department appealed the injunction to the D.C. Circuit the next day.

On October 30, Reyes ordered a formal ethics investigation after grilling Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward for more than two hours over what she called "materially misleading information". On October 19, Justice Department lawyers had insisted there were no closure plans, yet days later the administration announced the November 15 closure.

Jessie Liu Ethics Probe: What the Investigator Will Examine

Liu's task is to investigate whether Justice Department and Interior Department lawyers committed ethical violations in the case. That is narrower than whether the renovation itself is lawful, but it carries serious consequences: Reyes has implied the attorneys could face sanctions, and a finding of misconduct could damage the government's credibility in other cases.

Liu brings a notable background to the role. As US Attorney for the District of Columbia, she led one of the largest federal prosecutor's offices in the country. Her appointment by a judge openly critical of the government is also a signal: Reyes is bringing in an outsider rather than relying on the Justice Department to police itself.

Reactions and Quotes

Reyes has made little secret of her frustration. At the heated hearing last month, after learning the administration had removed more than 400 trees with less than a day's notice, she told the government's lawyers: "More than just being upset and furious right now, I am just beyond disappointed with the government." She added that the government had lost all credibility in her view.

The administration denies withholding anything from the court and says no finding of misconduct has been made. It has also unsuccessfully sought to have Reyes remove herself from the case. Reyes rejected that request and has kept the case.

Why It Matters

The case matters beyond one golf course because it tests how far a federal judge can go when she believes the government has not been straight with her. Courts depend on the candour of the lawyers who appear before them, and when a judge concludes that candour is missing, the remedies — sanctions and an independent ethics investigation — are among the strongest tools in the judicial arsenal.

It also matters because the course is public land. Its first nine holes opened in 1920, and it has long been one of the capital's most affordable places to play golf, with fees of up to 48 dollars and about 130,000 rounds played in 2025. The plan would turn the 36-hole facility into a single upscale 18-hole course built for major championships, a change critics say would price out local golfers.

What Happens Next

Both sides have until next week to respond to Reyes's order, and Liu's appointment is expected to become final after that. The plaintiffs' request to block the November 15 closure will be heard on Friday, before the closure date arrives.

If Reyes grants that request, the course stays open while the ethics investigation runs. If she does not, the administration can proceed with the closure even as Liu examines its lawyers' conduct. Any finding of misconduct would become part of the record and could shape the government's appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Jessie Liu?
The former US Attorney for the District of Columbia (2017-2020), whom Judge Ana Reyes intends to appoint to investigate possible ethics violations by government lawyers.

What is the East Potomac Golf Links case about?
A lawsuit by the D.C. Preservation League and two golfers challenging the Trump administration's plan to close the public East Potomac Golf Links for a 15-month redesign.

What did the government allegedly do wrong?
Reyes is concerned government lawyers misled the court about the closure's timing, including insisting on October 19 that there were no closure plans, days before the November 15 closure was announced.

Could the lawyers be sanctioned?
Yes. Reyes has implied the attorneys could face sanctions; Liu's investigation will decide whether that is warranted. No finding of misconduct has been made yet.

Will the golf course still close on November 15?
In doubt. The plaintiffs have asked Reyes to block the closure temporarily, with a hearing on Friday. She has not yet ruled.

Related coverage: the judge's original ethics inquiry is covered in our report on the October 30 order probing whether the Justice Department misled the court and the closure announcement in our report on the November 15 closure plan.

Image: An original illustration of a federal courthouse in Washington, D.C. (US News Pulse)