The Trump team’s disdain for judicial orders is blowing up in court. Accountability has been slow in coming

A federal judge raked President Donald Trump’s administration over the coals on Monday in a case involving his plans to renovate a public golf course in Washington, DC. After the administration cut down more than 430 trees without properly notifying US District Judge Ana Reyes, she said last week she was “furious” and issued a court order to stop it. Then, after Trump on Sunday said construction would begin “immediately” despite the judge’s order, she forced officials to testify on Monday and sought to highlight the apparent unwillingness of Justice Department lawyers to vouch for the administration’s claims in court. All of this comes as the administration accuses the judge of “egregious” behavior and seeks to remove her from the case. It’s been quite the scene. But it’s also been a long time coming.