Trump insists vandals damaged Reflecting Pool, blasts DOJ for dropped charge
Federal prosecutors said contractor errors and rushed repairs caused the damage, undercutting the felony case against former Olympian David Hearn.
- President Donald Trump publicly criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after federal prosecutors moved to drop criminal vandalism charges against former Olympian David Hearn.
- Trump doubled down on claims of deliberate destruction on Truth Social, writing that "to me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM" and insisting that "major damage was caused by VANDALS!"
- The president's comments directly contradicted his own Justice Department, which acknowledged in court filings that internal Interior Department records showed the liner peeled due to contractor errors during a rushed installation.
- Trump conceded "there may have been some contractor difficulty", but posted video clips to social media maintaining that individuals intentionally sliced and damaged the pool's new blue lining.
- The public dispute highlights growing internal friction, as DOJ officials acknowledged they could not prove criminal intent beyond a reasonable doubt after reviewing the contractor's installation history.
174 Articles
174 Articles
Trump disagrees with prosecutor Pirro. He maintains that damage to a pool in Washington, D.C., was caused by vandalism.
The Economic Times
Times of IndiaTrump blasts US Attorney Pirro after she refutes his claim that Reflecting Pool was damaged by vandals
US President Trump disagreed with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's findings on the Reflecting Pool damage. Pirro's office dropped charges against David Hearn, citing construction issues. The Justice Department's prosecution faced an embarrassing setback after this dismissal. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum countered Pirro's claims about vandalism evidence. Hearn's legal team criticized both Trump and Pirro for their statements.
Trump rejects his own Justice Department's findings on Lincoln pool damage: ‘I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro’
Trump said he disagrees with findings by his own Department of Justice attributing the peeling lining of the newly refurbished Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, to faulty installation rather than acts of vandalism.
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