Justice Dept. admits Reflecting Pool renovation was flawed, drops case against former Olympian
The U.S. Justice Department has dropped criminal charges against a former Olympian accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, admitting the damage was caused by a botched government renovation. The admission contradicts earlier claims by the Trump administration that the damage was the result of vandalism.
Why it matters
This case highlights issues of government accountability and the potential for political narratives to conflict with forensic evidence regarding public infrastructure.
The Justice Department admitted Friday that President Donald Trump’s $14 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was “hasty and botched,” and it is dropping the criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn that accused him of vandalizing the pool, according to a new court filing from DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro. The admissions are an embarrassing reversal for Pirro — and for Trump, who has insisted publicly for weeks that vandals were solely responsible for the severely damaged pool lining, chronic algae blooms and green-hued water at the iconic landmark. Three other people have been swept up in the administration’s push to blame the pool’s problems on alleged vandals — each pleading not guilty to lesser, misdemeanor charges. Federal prosecutors dropped the charges against at least one of those people as well Friday, according to DC court records.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in