Trump's outburst followed Reyes' overnight order rejecting a disqualification request signed by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. Ruling that "the Government has not met its burden to demonstrate that the Court's actions and words demand disqualification," Reyes accused the Justice Department of using selective quotations to support a "baseless recusal motion" after its lawyers complained of being "belittled" and "shouted at." She maintained she had been fair by not halting the project earlier and attributed her courtroom rebukes to the Justice Department's conduct.
Reyes summoned Woodward, Interior Department Deputy Chief of Staff Gregory Wischer, and National Park Service official Jessica Bowron to Monday's hearing after crews felled 430 trees at the 106 year old public course without required advance notice, prompting a temporary restraining order pausing further tree removal through Oct. 26. After Trump announced Sunday that the course will close Nov. 15 for a 15 month rebuild, Reyes ordered the government to clarify its stance from two days earlier that his plan was merely "nascent." Justice Department lawyers responded Sunday night that the proposal remains "subject to change" pending Park Service review.