Trump administration seeks to remove judge in golf course case, accusing her of ‘egregious’ behavior
By Kaanita Iyer, CNN
(CNN) — The Trump administration has requested the removal of the federal judge overseeing a legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s plans to overhaul a Washington, DC public golf course, accusing her of having “bias.”
In a motion filed Friday, the administration’s lawyer said US District Judge Ana Reyes’ “behavior in this case is nothing short of egregious,” pointing to a tense hearing earlier this week.
CNN previously reported that during Monday’s hearing, Reyes — who was appointed to the bench by former President Joe Biden — said she was “furious” with the Trump administration for cutting down 169 trees from the East Potomac Golf Course without first notifying the court, adding that “the government can’t be trusted.”
In Friday’s filing, the Justice Department lawyer said, “Judge Reyes’s conduct rises to the level of deep-seated and unequivocal antipathy toward the Trump Administration,” raising comments she made when overseeing other cases involving the administration.
“The Trump Administration is entitled to a neutral forum and an adjudicator who is capable of maintaining the appearance of impartiality,” the lawyer continued. “Judge Reyes has demonstrated she cannot do that.”
Friday’s filing is part of a legal challenge from a preservationist group and two local golfers against Trump’s plans to transform the East Potomac Golf Course into a championship caliber course. The proposed renovation is among several construction projects that the president has launched since returning to the White House as part of his efforts to reshape Washington, DC’s physical landscape.
Federal officials said in a recent court filing that nearly 730 trees will need to be cleared as part of the renovation plan, describing it as routine maintenance meant to eliminate potential hazards.
The administration’s lawyer also took issue with Reyes requiring “high-level” officials to be at the Monday hearing, writing that she “demonstrates a cavalier disregard for these officials’ valuable time, as well as a blatant disregard for black-letter separation of powers principles she should be aware of as a federal judge.”
The lawyer went on to point to comments that Reyes previously made when overseeing other cases involving the Trump administration to argue that there is a “pattern of animus.”
According to the filing, Reyes said the administration is “literally erasing transgender people” with its ban on transgender service members. The judge ultimately blocked the ban.
The-CNN-Wire
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