Key facts
- President Donald Trump criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for dismissing vandalism charges in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool incident.
- Pirro's office concluded that damage to the pool was the result of a faulty renovation, not vandalism.
- Charges were dismissed against former Olympian David Hearn, who faced a felony property destruction charge.
- Trump suggested Pirro "choked" and "folded like an umbrella" under pressure.
- Trump indicated he had not yet decided on Pirro's future position.
President Donald Trump has publicly criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, whom he appointed, for dismissing vandalism charges related to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Trump told NBC News that Pirro "made a terrible mistake" and questioned why she acted so "stupidly" in challenging his claims of vandalism.
Pirro's office filed a 20-page document stating that the damage to the recently renovated pool was the result of a "botched" renovation by a contractor, not vandalism. The charges were dismissed against David Hearn, a former Olympian, and three others. Hearn had faced a felony property destruction charge for touching the pool's peeling coating.
Trump had previously accused Pirro of "folding like an umbrella" after the charges were dropped. Hearn's lawyers stated the case should never have been filed and that the administration owes him an apology. Hearn's attorney, Steven Levin, said that "all options are on the table" for legal action, including civil suits and requests for sanctions against the prosecutors involved.
Trump indicated he had not yet decided whether Pirro would be removed from her position, stating, "I think she made a terrible decision. That doesn’t mean change." The comments followed a reported heated Oval Office meeting involving Trump, Pirro, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, where Pirro reportedly accused Burgum of misleading the president about the renovation.