U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro Reverses Course on Reflecting Pool Vandalism Indictment
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced felony vandalism charges on July 2 against 67-year-old ex-Olympian David Hearn for allegedly damaging the lining of the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Initially citing tremendous evidence of willful destruction during a press conference alongside cameras, Ms. Pirro stated that proving Hearn destroyed the property was a priority for both President Trump and herself.
Prosecution Reversal Blames Interior Department and Contractor Flaws
Reversing course in a 20-page filing, Ms. Pirro’s office withdrew the charge against Mr. Hearn and criticized the Interior Department and U.S. Park Police officials for providing flawed information. Prosecutors concluded after reviewing 695 megabytes of documents that the damage was caused by a rushed renovation under Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and flawed installation by the contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings, rather than criminal vandalism.
Public Rejection of Justice Department Indictments Grows Nationwide
The about-face highlights a wider pattern of grand juries and federal juries rejecting Department of Justice indictments under Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys. Previous rejections include grand jurors in Virginia dismissing mortgage-related charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James twice in a week, alongside dropped district cases involving a Justice Department employee and a protestor.
President Trump Disagrees as Defense Weighs Legal Remedies
President Trump criticized Ms. Pirro on Truth Social, stating he disagreed 100% and maintained that the damage was a pure case of vandalism by criminals rather than contractor difficulties. Meanwhile, defense attorney Norman L. Eisen and Mr. Hearn’s legal team asserted that the administration’s renovation was to blame all along and noted they are evaluating all legal remedies.
