Trump's golf course controversy

Independent UK - A federal judge is opening an investigation into whether government lawyers lied to her court or violated ethics rules in a blockbuster lawsuit against Donald Trump's proposed multi-million dollar, taxpayer-funded renovation plans for a public golf course in Washington, D.C.

The Trump administration has insisted for weeks that there were no imminent plans to close the park despite the president's Truth Social announcements outlining his vision for the project.

The Department of Justice finally admitted in court filings this week that the president's plans to close East Potomac Park on November 15 are, in fact, in the works.

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes repeatedly erupted at government attorneys during a heated court hearing on Friday before finding that Justice Department officials "intentionally" timed the abrupt removal of hundreds of trees to evade judicial review - and may have been misleading the court about plans that have long been in the works.

"The third highest ranking official at the Department of Justice is telling me, telling a federal court, that he cannot say that when the president posted the 'course will close on November 15,' what he meant was, 'the court will close on November 15'?" Reyes asked.