Federal judge orders ethics investigation into whether Trump's DOJ lawyers misled the court over Washington DC golf course plan

Judge Ana Reyes ordered the probe after Trump administration attorneys gave contradictory accounts of plans to close and redevelop East Potomac Golf Links on 15 November, with the DOJ's No. 3 official, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr., among those facing scrutiny. Reyes has given the Justice Department five days to object before she appoints a special master to lead the inquiry.

The judge accused DOJ and Interior Department lawyers of coaching witnesses to leave critical facts out of sworn court statements.

At Friday's hearing, Reyes read aloud a dictionary definition of "involved" after an official pleaded confusion over whether Interior Secretary Doug Burgum had any role in the project.

Trump has threatened that Reyes will be held "fully responsible" for anyone "hurt or killed" at the course, which he called "dangerous, dilapidated, and absolutely disgusting" on Truth Social.