Trump Disagrees with U.S. Attorney on Reflecting Pool Case

President Donald Trump expressed his disagreement with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro regarding the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, labeling it as "a pure case of vandalism." This statement was made on Truth Social after Pirro's office requested the dismissal of a felony charge against former U.S. Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the pool's protective lining. Trump stated, "I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro" and emphasized that while there may have been contractor issues, the major damage was caused by vandals. The U.S. Park Police had previously reported that the numbers "86 47" were etched into the grass near the pool, a phrase that has political implications. Pirro's office dropped the charges against Hearn after discovering flaws in the renovation project, which had been completed shortly before the incident. The case against Hearn was dismissed without prejudice, allowing for the possibility of future charges. The contractor responsible for the renovation, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, received a no-bid contract worth over $14 million for the project, which faced delays due to weather and other complications.