U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes has announced her intention to appoint former federal prosecutor Jessie Liu as a special master to investigate whether representatives of the Trump administration and their legal counsel misled the court regarding the redevelopment of the historic East Potomac public golf course in Washington, D.C., according to the Associated Press. Judge Reyes is seeking to determine whether officials from the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service, as well as attorneys from the Department of Justice, provided accurate information regarding the scope of planned construction and the actions taken to implement them. A primary focus of the inquiry involves the unauthorized felling of hundreds of trees in early October. The Trump administration has proposed closing the golf course and surrounding park on November 15 to facilitate the construction of what it describes as a “world-class, championship-level” golf course capable of hosting major tournaments. Last month, Judge Reyes issued a temporary injunction prohibiting authorities from cutting down or damaging additional trees on the site. Under the ongoing court order, the government is required to provide 10 days’ written notice to the court before making any irreversible changes to the structures or elements of the golf course. The scrutiny intensified following a series of posts on the Truth Social platform starting October 18, in which Donald Trump discussed the redevelopment plans. During subsequent court hearings, administration representatives were unable to confirm the existence of these plans when questioned by the judge. On October 28, the Department of Justice formally acknowledged to the court that the plans were, in fact, real. Judge Reyes, who had previously denied motions from plaintiffs seeking to intervene in the matter, is now investigating who authorized the tree removal despite assurances provided by government attorneys. David Super, a law professor at Georgetown University, noted that an investigation into the conduct of trial participants could be a precursor to potential charges of contempt of court. Judge Reyes has directed both parties to submit written positions regarding the appointment of Jessie Liu by Friday, ahead of the next scheduled court hearing.