President Trump publicly rebuked U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Saturday for supporting the dismissal of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism case against former Olympian David Hearn. The Justice Department moved to drop the charges on Friday, concluding that the damage stemmed from a “rushed and botched installation” rather than intentional vandalism. Trump, in a sharp rebuke on Truth Social, distanced himself from the decision, saying, “I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool.”
The president continued, “I don’t know what she was thinking? To me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM, that included the grass, which had a big 86 47 emblazoned in giant letters on it, and other elements of the surrounding area.” His comments came a day after federal prosecutors filed a motion to drop the felony destruction of property charge against Hearn, who had pleaded not guilty.
Hearn was indicted earlier this month after prosecutors alleged he “forcefully and violently” ripped the bottom liner of the pool. However, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Columbia, led by Pirro, revealed in its filing that newly obtained documents showed the pool’s problems were the result of over-spraying and delamination. “Specifically, the newly released documents reveal that work on installing the lining almost immediately fell behind, due to a combination of very rainy and windy weather, repeated failures of testing on the sealing of the expansion joints, and delays in obtaining sealing product at the worksite,” prosecutors wrote.
The administration has faced intense scrutiny over the Reflecting Pool renovation project, part of Trump’s broader efforts to beautify Washington, D.C., in advance of America’s 250th anniversary. The pool’s “American flag blue” paint began peeling, and an algae bloom formed, forcing multiple drainings for repairs since the renovation began.
In his post, Trump did not dismiss the contractor issues but insisted Hearn bore responsibility for some damage. “There may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS,” he wrote. In a separate post, the president shared a video of the alleged incident, claiming, “the material is being cut with a knife or a box cutter, for all to see!” The video, however, was not part of the official court record.
Prosecutors noted on Friday that the section Hearn was accused of tampering with was not in the area where the vandalism likely occurred. Additionally, a National Park Service engineer had raised concerns about peeling days before Hearn’s arrest. “Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt,” prosecutors wrote.
The decision to drop the case has drawn political reactions, with Trump’s public criticism of Pirro adding to tensions within his administration. The case also highlights broader debates over the management of the renovation project, which has been a point of contention for the administration. As the legal process continues, the final decision on Hearn’s charges will rest with the judge overseeing the case.
This development comes as the administration faces multiple controversies, including skepticism over its Gaza disarmament plan and GOP defections threatening the attorney general nominee. The Reflecting Pool case adds another layer of political friction, as Trump continues to assert his view despite the Justice Department’s findings.
