The DOJ dismissed misdemeanor charges against three people accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after prosecutors attributed algae growth and peeling blue sealant to contractor installation flaws rather than vandalism. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro had earlier dropped a felony count against Olympian David Hearn, who says he only touched a loose strip while on a bike ride. President Trump criticized Pirro for the dismissals, while defense lawyers said the prosecutions caused job and housing losses for clients. The pool has been drained and repairs are ongoing; the White House has not released a cost or timeline.
DOJ Drops Reflecting Pool Charges After Pirro Dismisses Hearn Case, Drawing Criticism From Trump
Charges have now been dropped against four people accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC (Reuters)
The Department of Justice quietly dismissed misdemeanor charges on Friday against the three remaining people accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, following U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's earlier decision to drop a felony count against Olympian David Hearn.
What Happened
Federal prosecutors concluded that the bright green algae and the peeling blue sealant in the pool were caused by installation flaws by the contractor, not vandalism. Prosecutors filed paperwork to dismiss misdemeanor destruction-of-property charges for Justin Carreno, Cameron Thiers and Sophie Dennison-Gibby; each had been accused of damage valued at less than $1,000.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that vandals have destroyed the monument. However, his Department of Justice said Friday that wasn't the case (Reuters)
Hearn's Case
Hearn, a 67-year-old former slalom canoeist and two-time whitewater world champion, was on a 52-mile bike ride on June 19 when he stopped at the pool. He told The Washington Post he reached into the shallow water to touch an already peeling strip of material and did not remove anything. Attorneys for Hearn said the case "should never have been brought" and said the government owes him an apology.
Reactions And Consequences
President Donald Trump publicly criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after she dismissed the felony charge against Hearn, saying she "folded like an umbrella" and later that she "choked" and "made a mistake." Interior Secretary Doug Burgum echoed the administration's vandalism claims on X, asserting that "evidence is clear" that vandals caused repeated damage; he did not publish supporting evidence in his post.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro drew ire from Trump after dismissing the charges, with the president saying she 'choked' (AFP/Getty)
Defense attorneys said the prosecutions harmed their clients: Justin Carreno, a government contractor, was fired after his arrest and has reported housing and financial hardship. Attorneys for Thiers and Dennison-Gibby said their clients were relieved by the dismissals and described the episode as a "nightmare." One defense lawyer characterized the original charges as politically charged.
Pool Repairs And Next Steps
The Reflecting Pool has been drained and crews have resumed repairs. The White House has not released a timeline or cost estimate for the ongoing work. With Hearn and the three misdemeanor defendants cleared, four people are no longer facing criminal charges related to the pool damage.
Trump claimed that Pirro 'made a mistake' after dismissing the felony charges against Olympian David Hearn last week (Getty)
Trump: "I was really disappointed in Jeanine Pirro. She folded like an umbrella."
Media figures noted the political tensions: CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins shared a montage highlighting administration officials who promoted the vandalism narrative, saying Pirro’s filing puts her at odds with the president and others who publicly asserted vandalism.
Bottom line: The DOJ's filings shift responsibility for the pool's condition toward contractor error rather than criminal vandalism, but the dispute has become a public flashpoint between the administration and federal prosecutors.
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