Trump Criticizes U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro Over Dropped Reflecting Pool Vandalism Case

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly criticized U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro after her office moved to dismiss criminal charges against a former Olympian accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, deepening a rare public disagreement within his administration.

The Justice Department sought to drop the case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn after a court filing concluded that newly obtained evidence indicated the damage to the Reflecting Pool was primarily caused by flawed construction work and a rushed renovation project, rather than deliberate vandalism. Prosecutors also cited additional inspections showing widespread structural defects inconsistent with intentional damage.

Trump rejected the assessment, insisting that vandals were responsible for the majority of the damage. In a social media post, he said he “disagreed 100%” with Pirro’s conclusions while acknowledging there may have been issues with the contractor responsible for the renovation. He also released surveillance footage that he claimed supported allegations of vandalism, although no definitive evidence was presented to substantiate those claims.

The court filing stated that the Interior Department had not initially provided complete information regarding the condition of the Reflecting Pool, leading prosecutors to reassess the evidence. It added that the government would likely not have pursued an indictment had the full facts been available from the outset.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended his department, maintaining that investigators had supplied prosecutors with expert analysis, eyewitness testimony, and video evidence relating to acts of vandalism at the site.

Hearn’s legal team welcomed the dismissal but criticized both Trump and Pirro, arguing that the damage resulted from a poorly executed renovation rather than criminal activity. The attorneys said they are considering legal action on behalf of their client following the prosecution.

The controversy centers on the high-profile renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a project initiated ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations. The pool has since been drained for further repairs, while officials continue to assess the extent of the construction-related damage.