WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump publicly criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Saturday for her assessment that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was due to construction issues rather than vandalism. This claim contradicts Trump's insistence that vandals are responsible for the substantial damage.
Pirro’s office submitted a court filing on Friday requesting the dismissal of criminal charges against David Hearn, a former Olympian accused of intentionally damaging the pool following a renovation in preparation for the U.S. 250th birthday celebration last month. Trump acknowledged potential construction challenges in the new pool liner but maintains a staunch belief that "the major damage was caused by VANDALS!"
In a social media post, Trump expressed his disagreement with Pirro's findings, framing her decision as a deviation from his narrative regarding the incident. This notable dismissal represents a setback for the Justice Department, which previously supported Trump's assertions and promoted the prosecution as a form of accountability for damage inflicted on a significant Washington landmark.
Government lawyers detailed in their 20-page court filing that the damage was primarily the result of a defective installation by a contractor, compounded by a hurried timeline for project completion surrounding the America 250 festivities. Inspections suggested that excessive damage occurred throughout the pool, particularly in areas where vandals likely would not have engaged, undermining the case against Hearn.
In her court filing, Pirro, a Trump appointee, indicated that the newly revealed information complicated the ability to link the extensive damage directly to vandalism, thus justifying the request for a case dismissal. She criticized the Interior Department for not being transparent about the available information at the start of the case. Such a shift in Pirro's stance has raised eyebrows, especially given her earlier assertions about the strength of the evidence against Hearn.
In response, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum appeared to refute Pirro’s comments, alleging that acts of vandalism were documented on video and asserting that the U.S. Attorney’s office was furnished with both expert and eyewitness accounts of the damage caused by vandals.
Hearn's legal team expressed frustration with both Trump and Pirro, stating that legal remedies were being considered on their client’s behalf. They argued that Trump’s anger at Pirro stemmed from her acknowledgment of the renovation’s flaws, ultimately deflecting blame from Hearn. They further emphasized that evidence presented in legal filings consistently pointed to the administration's failures rather than Hearn's actions.
Additionally, Trump shared a nearly four-minute video purportedly taken from a security camera that allegedly depicts individuals manipulating the pool's lining. However, it's unclear from the footage whether any wrongdoing occurred, as the workers nearby seemed oblivious to the activities captured on camera.
In May, Trump had announced plans to enhance the Reflecting Pool with a $14.7 million contract awarded to Atlantic Industrial Coatings to repaint and waterproof the pool. Shortly after the project's completion, issues arose with the new lining, prompting Trump to attribute the peeling to vandalism rather than construction defects. Notably, the National Park Service reported an incident where a sharp object had been used to cut the new lining.
This Reflecting Pool project is one among several initiatives championed by Trump in the capital, which include significant renovations and constructions, such as demolishing the White House's East Wing for a new ballroom and proposing a towering arch connecting the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
