Justice Department watchdog declines to investigate handling of Reflecting Pool case, lawyers say
The watchdog said the allegations belong in the Justice Department's internal ethics office, while Hearn's lawyers pressed for an independent probe of possible misconduct.
- On Wednesday, the Department of Justice's inspector general declined to investigate the criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn, referring misconduct allegations to the Office of Professional Responsibility instead.
- Hearn's lawyers allege prosecutors "rushed to indict" under pressure from Republican President Donald Trump regarding a massive renovation project of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for America's 250th anniversary.
- Attorneys cited a "broad variety of incompetence and misconduct" during the prosecution, claiming evidence proving Hearn's innocence was "simply ignored" by the Justice Department before dismissal last summer.
- Defense attorney Michael Bromwich argues the Office of Professional Responsibility lacks independence to conduct meaningful review and has no obligation to publicize findings to Congress.
- Inspector General Don R. Berthiaume faces a request to reconsider, with lawyers warning that declining independent review risks undermining public confidence in the department's ability to police its own conduct.
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Spectrum News 13DOJ watchdog declines to probe handling of Reflecting Pool case, lawyers say
A former Olympian was cleared of accusations that he intentionally damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
DOJ declines to investigate handling of Reflecting Pool case
The Justice Department’s inspector general has declined to investigate the handling of the case against David Hearn, a former Olympic athlete accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, prompting his lawyers to call for an independent review of alleged misconduct by federal officials. The department’s internal watchdog said the allegations fall outside its jurisdiction […]
DOJ watchdog declines to investigate handling of Reflecting Pool case, lawyers say
The Justice Department has declined to investigate the handling of the criminal case against an Olympian who was cleared of accusations that he intentionally damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
DOJ's inspector general declines to investigate prosecutors who falsely charged Olympian David Hearn in Reflecting Pool case
Hearn's lawyers complain the inspector general has referred the case to the Office of Professional Responsibility, a unit that was largely gutted and lacks independence.
U.S. Justice Department watchdog declines to investigate handling of Reflecting Pool case, lawyers say
The U.S. Department of Justice’s inspector general has declined to investigate the handling of the criminal case against a former Olympian cleared of accusations that he intentionally damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to a letter Wednesday from the man’s lawyers.
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