DOJ moves to dismiss Reflecting Pool vandalism charges against David Hearn, says damage due to "botched installation"

Federal prosecutors on Friday asked a judge to dismiss an indictment charging former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn with ripping up the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, citing new information that the damage was caused by a "botched installation" by a contractor, not vandalism. The U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C. had charged Hearn with felony destruction of government property, accusing him of causing more than $1,000 in damage to the sealant that was recently installed at the bottom of the Reflecting Pool. The project to renovate the pool was championed by President Trump.On Friday, prosecutors cited new information that the damage was caused by a "botched installation" by a contractor, not vandalism.President Trump criticized the decision on Saturday afternoon, saying on Truth Social that there "may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS!" "I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S.