US Attorney General backs Washington prosecutor after Trump criticizes vandalism case

US Attorney General Todd Blanche publicly defended Washington prosecutor Jeanine Pirro on Sunday after President Donald Trump criticized her handling of a vandalism case at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The case involved charges against former US Olympian David Hearn and others for alleged vandalism, which led to peeling material at the pool's bottom. Pirro sought dismissal of the charges, blaming flawed contractor work and incomplete information from the Interior Department. Trump posted that Pirro should revisit her 'hastily made decision' to drop the case. Blanche, appearing on NBC's Meet the Press, expressed full support for Pirro, noting that Trump also supports her. He acknowledged Trump's frustration, citing a witness who observed vandalism. The pool had undergone a fast-tracked renovation costing about US$14.7 million ahead of the Fourth of July celebrations, but an algae bloom and peeling material developed within weeks. The incident highlights tensions between the administration and the Justice Department over handling of cases involving federal property.