Trump disputes own Justice Department on Reflecting Pool vandalism
President Donald Trump publicly contradicted his own Justice Department's findings regarding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., insisting that the damage was vandalism rather than a flawed installation. On Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social, disagreeing with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's conclusion. The Justice Department, in a court filing on Friday, had asked a judge to drop the case against David Hearn, a 67-year-old former Olympian accused of vandalizing the pool. Prosecutors cited documents from the Department of the Interior indicating a rushed and flawed installation process, with repeated lining failures and extensive peeling. The pool, renovated at a cost of $14.7 million, had developed algae blooms and peeling blue lining. Trump, facing criticism over the renovation, had blamed vandals for the problems. The case has become a flashpoint in Trump's efforts to remake Washington.
Key facts
- Trump disputes Justice Department findings on Reflecting Pool
- Justice Department said flawed installation caused lining to peel
- Trump insists it was 'a pure case of vandalism'
- U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Spence filed motion to drop case
- David Hearn, 67, former Olympian, was accused of vandalism
- Renovation cost $14.7 million
- Pool developed algae blooms and peeling blue lining
- Department of Interior documents indicated rushed and flawed installation
Entities
Artists
- David Hearn
Institutions
- Justice Department
- Department of the Interior
- Truth Social
- US Park Police
- National Park Service
- Interior Department
- The Washington Post
Locations
- Washington, D.C.
- United States
- Washington
- Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
- National Mall