Republican strategist Scott Jennings argued that former Olympic canoeist David Hearn should take legal action against the Trump administration following the abrupt dismissal of federal charges linked to damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Speaking on CNN's The Source with Erica Hill, Jennings said the government's handling of the case was inexcusable and that Hearn deserved a formal apology.
"Yeah, of course," Jennings said when asked whether the Department of Justice had acted prematurely. "It looks terrible. And, you know, after everything that was said, this guy, he is owed an apology."
Hearn, 67, had been indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., on a felony destruction of property charge, carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro alleged that Hearn had "ripped a piece of recently installed sealant" from the bottom of the Reflecting Pool. The case collapsed on Friday when prosecutors shifted blame to contractors responsible for the renovation, citing hasty workmanship and failure to remediate defects before the site was reopened.
According to newly filed court documents, the section Hearn was accused of tampering with was not in the area where the vandalism likely occurred. Reports also surfaced that a National Park Service engineer had flagged peeling paint days before Hearn's arrest, raising further questions about the investigation's integrity.
"I'm glad the charges got dropped. But they don't have evidence. They shouldn't be trying to go to trial," Jennings said, echoing broader criticism of the prosecution. The case had drawn attention to the troubled renovation of the Reflecting Pool, which was handled by Atlantic Industrial Coatings under a no-bid contract that ballooned to $14.7 million by June. The project faced scrutiny after an algae bloom and peeling paint were discovered post-completion.
President Trump publicly disagreed with the decision to drop the case, posting on Truth Social: "I don't know what she was thinking? To me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM." That rebuke underscored the political tensions surrounding the episode. Jennings, however, stood by his assessment, concluding, "They dragged this guy's name through the mud."
The dropped charges have reignited debate over the DOJ's handling of high-profile cases. For more on the political fallout, see Trump's criticism of Pirro. Meanwhile, Hearn's legal team has signaled they may pursue civil action, as detailed in the challenge to the indictment. The case also highlights broader concerns about government accountability, a theme that resonates in recent allegations of political manipulation in other agencies.
