Pirate's Cove

Is there nothing these unhinged, deranged, wackadoodle, wanker Democrats won’t sue over?

Judge presses Trump administration on plans for East Potomac golf course

A federal judge pressed the Trump administration Thursday for more details on its proposed renovation of East Potomac Golf Links, a century-old waterfront course that is the subject of a lawsuit that seeks to halt the overhaul.

“I don’t want a destroyed East Wing, I don’t want a destroyed Reflecting Pool, or whatever, before [the plaintiffs] are able to come back to me and ask for relief,” U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes told the administration’s attorneys at a hearing.

Two Washington-area golfers and a nonprofit organization, the DC Preservation League, alleged in the lawsuit that the Trump administration is bypassing environmental and historic preservation laws in a rush to renovate the course, which was built on reclaimed land along the Potomac River and has sweeping views of the capital monuments on the National Mall.

President Donald Trump, an avid golfer, and his allies argue that the East Potomac course is worn down after years of neglect. The president toured the golf course this week with the golf course architect Tom Fazio, carrying what appeared to be detailed — and extensive — redevelopment plans.

It’s just a golf course, folks. One that is already there. That could stretch into more land that is not being used.

She gave particular scrutiny to the Sept. 1 deadline to begin work that Trump announced on social media. Reyes asked Robertson three different times whether Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directed his staff to begin work to meet the deadline after Trump’s visit.

“So is there a deadline, a date somewhere on paper, in the ether, wherever, where someone has been instructed to start something on September 1st?” she asked.

Does that really matter, or just Orange Man Bad stuff?

Reyes indicated that, while she is unlikely to grant the government’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, the plaintiffs face an uphill battle to persuade her to enjoin the government from proceeding.

Reyes requested that the two parties’ attorneys reach an agreement through which significant planned action will be conveyed beforehand, though Robertson said that the government did not have a legal obligation to do so.

Will Bardwell, a lawyer for the legal advocacy nonprofit Democracy Forward, urged Reyes to issue an injunction preventing the Trump administration from moving ahead with the renovation. He cited debris dumped on the side from the White House East Wing renovation, saying that significant asbestos and arsenic content could harm the local ecosystem.

Yeah, there’s no need to come to any agreement with a hardcore whackadoodle liberal group infused with TDS. Because that’s what they are. Nutbar. I wonder if any of them even golf there.

Reyes said she was reluctant to intervene at this stage. Although Bardwell suggested that the administration might move forward without the required permitting and environmental reviews, she said that no laws had yet been clearly broken.

“I don’t want to file an injunction,” said Reyes, adding that she was seeking to avoid contempt proceedings. “And I’m not there yet.”

I’m wondering why a judge is even wasting time with this. It’s a golf course. They get rejuvenated periodically (or sold to become houses, townhomes, and apartments, as I’ve seen happen to 2 around here. One I loved playing, had good hills and water features). And, seriously, 28 paragraphs for dedoing a golf course? Really?

(WTOP) Reyes also repeatedly challenged lawyers for the D.C. Preservation League to explain exactly what power she had to stop the project and whether they had shown the kind of harm needed for an injunction. The group argued the court should prevent meaningful ground disturbance while the lawsuit moves forward.

The Washington Post forgot that part. Also, if she doesn’t have the power, why is she continuing this farce?