The Needle: Judge Halts Changes to East Potomac Park, Trump Charges Former FBI Director James Comey Again, Outgoing Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch Gets Cheers, and More
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Gail O'Hara (via Washington CityPaper)
Shot stopper: Judge Ana C. Reyes ruled Monday that the Trump administration can’t cut down more trees at East Potomac Park or close the course without a court order, and must give 10 business days’ notice before closing or making irreversible changes to the park. This comes after convicted felon and President Donald Trump announced East Potomac would close Nov. 15 for about 15 months. The order requires the government to disclose the nature and timing of any work, the officials involved, its impact on the park, and whether it’s connected to Trump’s golf course plan, which DOJ lawyers say isn’t finalized. The judge says the government may have violated the National Environmental Policy Act. Trump has criticized the judge on social media, pushed for her recusal, and will appeal. Plus one point for Reyes. +1 [Post]
Third time’s the harm: The same day that a judge ruled that Maurene Comey was illegally fired from her job as a federal prosecutor, her father, former FBI director James Comey, was charged for the third time by the Trump administration, this time for “transmission of national defense information and conspiracy to transmit national defense information.” Trump has been out to get Comey since he investigated Russian interference in the 2016 election. Comey denies the charges. Minus two points for weaponizing the government against your personal enemies. -2 [NBC News, Guardian]
WholeBunch: Yesterday Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch arrived at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and was greeted with applause from past and present colleagues, some of whom wore pins reading “Thanks a Bunch, Lonnie.” He gushed about his 7,000 co-workers and they gushed back about him being a wonderful historian, leader, and thinker. Bunch, who has been with the institution for 38 years and became its first Black secretary in 2019, will retire in December. Plus two points for a healthy work environment but minus one for losing him. +1 [NBC4]
Not safe: Last Monday, ICE detained D.C.-area baseball coach Amaury Monsalve, aka Coach A, after his citizenship case was denied. He has been coaching for 25 years in the area (at Deal Middle School, Jackson-Reed High School, and Woodson High School), where he has championed programs to help make baseball accessible to all; he also volunteered for the Arcadia Foundation. Monsalve’s attorneys have filed an appeal and he’s currently being held in Louisiana awaiting a bond hearing set for Nov. 3. Minus two points for demonizing good people. -2 [PoPville, NBC4]
Chilling effect: A new report from D.C.’s Department of Human Services’ shows some Latino and Hispanic students are missing school due to the presence of National Guard troops and ICE officers, and that “the presence of these groups is having a negative impact on their families, including on their students’ attendance.” It also suggests students miss school because they’re sick, having academic or behavioral difficulties, or there are issues with school reporting. Minus one point for making kids scared of school. -1 [WTOP]
