Trump rejects his own DOJ’s finding blaming Reflecting Pool issues on shoddy renovation

Justice Department Concedes Reflecting Pool Renovation Was Flawed, Dismisses Vandalism Claims

Sandego.net – The Department of Justice has formally acknowledged that the deteriorating condition of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool resulted from a poorly executed renovation project rather than acts of vandalism. This admission comes as the federal government prepares to drop its criminal prosecution of David Hearn, a former Olympic athlete who had been accused of intentionally damaging the historic landmark.

President Donald Trump swiftly responded to the development, expressing complete disagreement with the Justice Department’s position. The president took to his Truth Social platform to voice his frustration with the agency’s reversal.

I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool. I don’t know what she was thinking? To me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM,

Trump’s social media statement followed closely on the heels of the Justice Department’s court filing, which characterized the $14 million renovation effort as both “hasty and botched.” The filing represented a significant embarrassment for U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and marked a dramatic departure from the administration’s previous assertions that vandals were responsible for the pool’s problems.

Timeline Reveals Renovation Issues Preceded Hearn’s Visit

New details emerging from the court documents challenge the narrative that Hearn caused the damage. According to an email obtained by Pirro’s office, National Park Service engineers first noticed peeling of the pool liner on June 11, more than a week before Hearn arrived at the site. This initial damage occurred in the same section of the liner where Hearn was later accused of ripping up the material.

Hearn was subsequently arrested on June 19 and formally indicted on July 2. Federal prosecutors had initially charged him with causing more than $1,000 in damage to the pool. However, weeks after the indictment, prosecutors received documentation from the Interior Department revealing serious concerns about the contractor’s workmanship.

The Interior Department “provided less than fulsome information at the outset of this case,” Pirro’s office wrote in the filing. The prosecutors added that if the department had been transparent with the information it already possessed, the government would not have pursued a grand jury indictment against Hearn.

Broader Implications and Additional Charges

The administration’s campaign to attribute the pool’s problems to vandalism extended beyond Hearn. Three other individuals have been caught up in this effort, each entering pleas of not guilty to reduced misdemeanor charges. According to DC court records and legal representation, federal prosecutors have also dismissed charges against at least two of these additional defendants.

The renovation project, which Trump ordered in May, included painting the pool bottom an intense shade of blue with a completion target of the Fourth of July. The project was part of a broader series of aesthetic modifications to Washington monuments that the president has directed throughout the summer.

Pirro’s office directed criticism toward multiple federal agencies in its filing, particularly the Interior Department. “The damage was the result of a botched installation and not vandalism as initially represented by DOI,” the office stated. Prosecutors further noted that visual inspections revealed damage throughout the entire pool, including areas in the center where vandals would be unlikely to attempt removing the lining.

Trump has consistently maintained his position without presenting supporting evidence, characterizing the alleged vandals as “sick, deranged” criminals who merited lengthy prison sentences. His description of the damage evolved from a “250 foot long gash” in June to 300-yard-long “slashes” by July.

Prosecutors emphasized that they could not fully assess the extent of the damage until July 17, when the pool was drained for a second time. The filing also noted that the government received only minimal police reports from the United States Park Police during the investigation.

CNN has contacted both the White House and the Interior Department seeking additional commentary on the developing situation.