Trump publicly rebukes U.S. Attorney Pirro over dropped vandalism charges in Reflecting Pool case

Trump publicly rebukes U.S. Attorney Pirro over dropped vandalism charges in Reflecting Pool case

President Donald Trump on Saturday publicly challenged U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's decision to dismiss vandalism charges in a case involving damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, insisting that deliberate destruction rather than construction problems caused the harm to the newly renovated landmark.

Pirro's office moved Friday to drop criminal charges against David Hearn, a three-time Olympic canoe slalom competitor who had faced up to 10 years in prison on felony destruction of property charges. In a 20-page court filing, government lawyers concluded that newly discovered documents from the Interior Department revealed the damage resulted from a botched installation by contractors and the rush to complete the project before the America 250 celebration on July 4, 2026.

The dismissal marks an embarrassing reversal for the Justice Department, which had previously echoed Trump's vandalism claims and portrayed the prosecution as accountability for damage at a Washington landmark that was a personal priority for the president.

Conflicting assessments of pool damage

Trump, in a social media posting, acknowledged there "may have been some contractor difficulty" in installing the new pool liner but maintained that "the major damage was caused by VANDALS." He added: "I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool."

Pirro, who was confirmed to her position in August 2025 in a narrow 50-45 Senate vote after serving in an interim capacity since May, stated in her filing that additional evidence made it "difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt." A recent visual inspection revealed damage throughout the pool, including in areas where prosecutors acknowledged a vandal would be unlikely to attempt peeling the lining.

The former Fox News host, who co-hosted "The Five" before her appointment and previously served as Westchester County District Attorney from 1994 to 2005, cited the accelerated construction timeline driven by the nation's 250th Independence Day anniversary celebration as a contributing factor to the installation problems.

Century-old structural challenges

The Reflecting Pool has experienced structural problems since its original construction in 1923, when it was built on drained marshland without proper support structures. The pool sank approximately one foot into the soft ground over nearly 90 years and was plagued with leaks and water-quality issues from the start due to its asphalt and tile bottom construction on poorly supported soil.

A major renovation between November 2010 and August 2012, costing between $30.74 million and $34 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, addressed these chronic issues by installing over 2,100 timber pilings for support. The recent work ordered by Trump involved draining the pool and painting the bottom with what he called "American flag blue," but chunks of the new liner began peeling off within days of completion.

Video evidence disputed

The president also posted a nearly four-minute security camera video on Saturday showing three individuals with their hands in the pool, claiming it depicts "material being cut with a knife or a box cutter, for all to see." The footage, apparently shot from a distance, shows one person with their hand in the pool for an extended period while workers stand nearby without appearing to notice any suspicious activity. The video does not clearly demonstrate vandalism occurring.

Hearn, who competed in the 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics and won world championship gold medals in 1985 and 1995, had pleaded not guilty at his July 9 arraignment. Supporters gathered outside the courthouse, with some calling him a hero.

The National Park Service had reported to U.S. Park Police a June 9 incident claiming a sharp knife or razor cut the pool's new liner, leading to Hearn's indictment on charges of destroying property valued at more than $1,000.

Broader capital renovation projects

The Reflecting Pool work represents one of several ambitious projects Trump has undertaken across Washington. Most prominently, he demolished the White House East Wing to construct a new ballroom, with the project cost reaching $400 million. He has also proposed building a monumental arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, drawing both supporters and critics.