The New York Times reports:

A federal judge on Saturday said that she intended to appoint a former U.S. attorney in Washington to investigate the government’s conduct in the lawsuit over President Trump’s plans to remake the East Potomac Golf Links.

Judge Ana C. Reyes of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia notified the parties in the lawsuit that she had landed on Jessie K. Liu to be a so-called special master, a role that would require her to navigate the tensions that have erupted between the judge and the Trump administration in the case.

The selection of Ms. Liu, a well-respected figure in Washington legal circles, came as Judge Reyes has refused to shrug off indications that the Justice Department and at least one Interior Department official concealed plans to begin transforming much of the park that houses the course into a championship-level track, in spite of her orders.

The rare decision to open an inquiry into the Trump administration’s conduct came after Judge Reyes had stated earlier in the case that she had lost confidence that the Justice Department had been operating in good faith.

The proposal was the first step in what could be a drawn-out inquiry related to the tactics the Trump administration has used to circumvent the courts to execute Mr. Trump’s renovation projects in Washington. It also came as Democrats prepared to assume control over Congress following a rout of Republicans in the midterm elections. Democratic lawmakers have made clear that they intend to oppose Mr. Trump’s moves to put his physical imprint on the capital. [Continue reading…]