Trump blasts DOJ official for dropping Reflecting Pool case
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The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Photo: Kevin Carter/Getty Images
President Trump called out D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Saturday over the decision to drop an indictment over alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Why it matters: The decision to drop the case against former Olympian canoeist David Hearn is an unusual public contradiction by the DOJ of Trump.
What they're saying: "I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro..." Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday afternoon. "I don't know what she was thinking? To me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM."
- The president went on to cite an instance where "86 47" was written in the grass on the National Mall — and included a picture of the damage.
- "There may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS!" he added.
- Hearn was accused of "forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands" and charged with felony destruction of property.
Driving the news: The DOJ's Friday filing in D.C. Superior Court said that the Department of the Interior gave Pirro's office additional documentation that showed the Reflecting Pool's issues were caused by "flawed installation by the contractor," rushing to complete repairs for the America 250 celebrations.
- The filing also indicated the Interior Department didn't turn over documents, video and other evidence about the Reflecting Pool until after the case had been presented to a grand jury.
- Prosecutors said they did not know until receiving the new information that the damage stemmed from a "botched installation" and not vandalism.
- "Had DOI been forthcoming with the information clearly in its possession, the government would not have sought a grand jury indictment," the filing reads.
- They added that it was "difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism."
The other side: "The Trump admin's case against Davey Hearn should have never been brought," Norm Eisen, one of Hearn's lawyers, wrote on X Friday evening.
- "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."
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information.
