President Donald Trump continued to insist the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool damage was vandalism and criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after her office dropped charges against former Olympian David Hearn. Prosecutors later said the harm resulted from a botched installation, and Hearn has maintained his innocence since his June 19 arrest. Trump said he was 'not happy' with Pirro and has not decided whether to remove her, while CNN sources say he is furious and her removal is considered likely.
Trump Criticizes Jeanine Pirro Over Reflecting Pool Case, Says He Hasn’t Decided Whether To Remove Her
Trump Gives Update On Whether He Will Fire Jeanine Pirro After Reflecting Pool Debacle
President Donald Trump on Tuesday renewed his assertion that the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was the result of vandalism, and he criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after her office dropped charges against former Olympian David Hearn.
What Happened
Pirro, a former Fox News host who now serves as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, indicted Hearn after Mr. Trump publicly urged action. Hearn was arrested on June 19 and has consistently maintained his innocence.
Prosecutors’ New Findings
After Pirro's office moved to dismiss the case, prosecutors filed court documents saying that the damage to the reflecting pool was "the result of a botched installation and not vandalism as initially represented." The decision to drop the charges prompted immediate criticism from the president.
'Well, I just think she was totally wrong; they did a beautiful job, there were a couple of little things, but that was not a big deal, and everybody saw the vandalism,' Mr. Trump told reporters. He also said he was 'not happy' with Pirro and had not 'made a determination' about her future.
Political Fallout
CNN sources told the network that the president was 'furious' after the case was dropped and that it was 'highly likely' Pirro could be removed from her post. The administration has not announced any personnel decisions.
Context
The episode highlights the intersection of politics and local legal decisions: a high-profile arrest based on initial representations about the cause of the pool damage, followed by prosecutorial review that changed the official account. Legal experts and local officials will likely continue to examine how the case developed and whether procedures or communications contributed to the error.
Help us improve.
