Trump's silly Reflecting Pool story masks something serious
The article discusses a failed renovation project at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ordered by the Trump administration. It argues that the administration's attempt to blame vandals for the damage reflects a broader pattern of using federal power to punish perceived enemies.
Why it matters
It raises concerns about the politicization of federal law enforcement and the integrity of government communications.
Donald Trump spent a lot of time this spring talking about renovations he wanted to make at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool . Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Donald Trump's renovations for the Reflecting Pool haven't worked out. Trump could blame himself — he's the one who ordered it. Instead, he offered stories about vandals. We're used to Trump falsehoods. When they are turned into federal charges — like this one did — it should freak us out. On July 2, federal prosecutors charged David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympian, with vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC. Hearn had made a " a violent effort " to damage the pool, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said. A month later, Pirro's office told the court she wanted to drop the case.
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