Reflecting Pool installation "botched," DOJ says, dropping Olympian's case

Driving the news: The DOJ filed in D.C. Superior Court to drop an indictment against David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, who'd been accused of "forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands."

• At a news conference earlier this month, D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the charge against Hearn was about "accountability" and that he faced up to 10 years in prison.
• Hearn pleaded not guilty to a charge of felony destruction of property earlier this month.

Yes, but: Federal prosecutors said Friday that new information from the Interior Department indicated a "flawed installation by the contractor," rushing to complete repairs for the America 250 celebrations, was to blame.

• Prosecutors said they did not know until receiving the new information that the damage stemmed from a "botched installation" and not vandalism.

• They added that it was "difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism."

What they're saying: "The Trump admin's case against Davey Hearn should have never been brought," Norm Eisen, one of Hearn's lawyers, wrote on X.

• "Its dismissal today does not erase the abuse of government power in arresting and charging a patriotic American who did nothing wrong. The administration owes Mr. Hearn an apology."