President Donald Trump publicly called on Washington U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Friday to reconsider her decision to drop criminal charges against former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn regarding damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
In a post on Truth Social, the president requested that Pirro “re-visit her hastily made decision” after prosecutors moved to dismiss the felony destruction of property charge against Hearn.
The Justice Department acknowledged in a court filing last week that the damage to the pool floor “was the result of flawed installation by the contractor” rather than criminal acts, noting that prosecutors discovered evidence of a “rushed and flawed installation process” only after a grand jury had indicted Hearn.
“People were on their knees with their hands in the water at the exact location of the ‘slashes,’” Trump wrote in his post. “Additionally, there were witnesses to the VANDALISM, and the flexible areas of the material were cut with a knife.”
The call to reopen the investigation follows a decision on Thursday by D.C. Superior Court Associate Judge Todd Edelman, who granted the government’s request to drop the charges but declined to immediately decide whether the dismissal would be with or without prejudice. A dismissal without prejudice leaves open the possibility for prosecutors to file charges again in the future, while a dismissal with prejudice permanently blocks a renewed prosecution.
Judge Edelman established a filing schedule for both parties and stated he would schedule oral arguments before ruling on whether the case can be reopened later.
Hearn had previously pleaded not guilty after being accused of “forcefully and violently” tearing parts of the pool floor following recent refurbishment work ahead of July 4 celebrations. Bits of the pool’s blue lining began floating to the surface shortly after it reopened.
Attorneys for Hearn filed a motion this week asking the judge to dismiss the indictment permanently with prejudice.
In their court filing, Hearn’s legal team wrote, “Defying both decency and common sense, the government proceeded to indict Mr. Hearn before it had obtained or evaluated the information necessary to establish a good-faith basis for the charge.” The filing added, “The Court should not leave the defendant subject to the possibility of renewed prosecution.”
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, whose department oversees the site, has maintained alongside the president that vandals cut the material. In recent statements to reporters, Trump expressed frustration with Pirro’s handling of the case, stating he believed she “choked” and “folded like an umbrella,” while adding that he had not made a final determination about her future in office.
READ: Senate Confirms Todd Blanche As Attorney General In 50-49 Vote
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
