Judge signals extension of tree cutting ban

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes indicated Monday she plans to extend her order blocking the Trump administration from cutting down more trees at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C.

Over four hundred trees cut during holiday

The administration abruptly chopped down over four hundred trees at the course over the Columbus Day holiday weekend. Judge Reyes found the government acted in bad faith in doing so.

Judge rejects coincidence argument

Reyes said she did not believe the administration's argument that tree clearing was unrelated to Trump's renovation plan.She stated there is no universe in which all of this just coincidentally happened at the same time.

“I mean, there is no universe in which all of this just coincidentally happened at the same time. There just isn't.”

DOJ claimed no renovation plan existed

Justice Department lawyers argued there was no renovation plan in place.But Trump undermined this stance Sunday on social media when he announced the Interior Department and golf course architect Tom Fazio had developed a plan.

Trump announces November fifteenth start date

Trump said the renovation would begin on November fifteenth, when the old course will be closed to play. He called the lawsuit seeking to preserve the current course ridiculous.

Trump demands immediate work authorization

Trump posted Monday morning that the Interior Department experts are allowed to do the renovation as of right and do not need approval. He wrote work is scheduled to begin immediately.

“The experts at 'Interior' are allowed to do this First Class renovation 'as of right.' They do not need an approval. Work is scheduled to begin IMMEDIATELY!”

Park Service director unaware of closure plan

Acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron testified she first heard of the planned course closure in Trump's social media post. She said she had no information on the referenced plan.

Interior officials deny knowledge of November fifteenth work

Interior Department chief of staff Gregory Wischer told the judge he was not aware of any work planned to begin November fifteenth.

Plaintiffs say renovation would transform site

A preservation group and two Washington residents allege Trump's plan would change the character of the one hundred year old site, which consists of three courses for varying skill sets, into a single championship style…

Judge cites rapid shift as bad faith evidence

Reyes pointed to Trump's posts as potential evidence of bad faith, noting the administration went from zero to work is scheduled to begin immediately in sixty seconds.

“We did not go from zero to 'work is scheduled to begin immediately' in 60 seconds.”

Trump attacks judge on social media

Trump blasted Reyes as a crazed lunatic in his Monday morning post. Reyes said she received messages from her brother and mother who were freaking out after hearing CNN report she had received death threats.

Judge rejects recusal demand from DOJ

The Justice Department argued Reyes should recuse herself, claiming she was biased and yelled at their attorneys. Reyes denied the request Sunday, saying her anger came from the government's broken promises, not bias.

“So what happened? Not sudden onset bias. Instead, the Government decided to remove over 500 healthy, non-invasive trees from East Potomac Golf Course.”

Judge describes tree removal as deliberate

Reyes noted the government waited until four fifty five pm on the Friday of a holiday weekend to give notice it would begin removing trees within fifteen hours.