Key facts
- President Trump publicly disputed U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's findings regarding damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
- Pirro's office sought to drop charges against former Olympian David Hearn, accused of vandalism.
- The Justice Department filing cited new evidence suggesting construction issues and rushed work caused the pool's damage.
- Trump maintained that vandals were responsible for the majority of the damage.
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that evidence of vandalism was provided to the U.S. Attorney's office.
President Donald Trump has publicly clashed with his own Justice Department over the findings in a case involving alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office filed a motion to dismiss criminal charges against former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the pool's liner.
In a court filing, Pirro's office stated that additional documents from the Interior Department indicated the damage was likely due to a botched installation of a new pool liner and the rush to complete the project before the America 250 celebration. Pirro, a Trump appointee, noted that a visual inspection revealed widespread damage, making it difficult to attribute it to vandalism beyond a reasonable doubt.
Trump, however, took to social media to dispute Pirro's assessment, acknowledging potential "contractor difficulty" but insisting that "major damage was caused by VANDALS!" He posted a video he claimed showed individuals cutting the pool liner with a knife or box cutter, though the footage did not clearly show vandalism. Hearn's legal team criticized both Trump and Pirro, asserting that the damage resulted from a flawed renovation, not their client.
The dismissal represents a setback for the Justice Department, which had previously supported Trump's claims of vandalism. Pirro's decision to drop the case is also seen as a rare instance of a political appointee openly defying the President.