Judge denies DOJ recusal bid in East Potomac Park golf case
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes rejected a Justice Department request that she recuse herself from a hearing about the proposed renovation of East Potomac Park into a championship golf course. The department accused Reyes of bias after she criticized the government for cutting hundreds of trees without sufficient notice. Reyes ruled that the government did not meet the legal standard for recusal, while President Trump attacked her on social media.
Judge Ana Reyes, a Biden-appointed federal judge in Washington, D.C., declined to remove herself from litigation over East Potomac Park. The dispute involves a preservation group and individual golfers who argue that converting the park into a championship-caliber course would violate the law. The Justice Department sought her recusal after she criticized the government for cutting hundreds of trees with little notice.
Reyes issued a 13-page ruling Sunday night, finding the government had not satisfied the legal threshold for recusal. She also blocked further tree removal. The department pointed to her sharp questioning and holiday testimony demands; she attributed the emergency to the government's own actions. Trump, meanwhile, criticized her on social media and announced a revised park plan.
The ruling may shape how quickly the East Potomac Park renovation proceeds and whether opponents can obtain further judicial review. Local golfers, park visitors, preservation advocates, and nearby residents could see changes to public green space and recreation access. The dispute may also affect perceptions of judicial independence, since a president's public criticism of a judge and the Justice Department's recusal request could intensify scrutiny of how courts handle politically charged cases.