U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche expressed his support for U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after her office decided to dismiss the vandalism case related to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Federal prosecutors moved to drop the charges against Olympic canoeist David Hearn on July 31, citing evidence that suggested the damage might have resulted from a flawed renovation rather than vandalism. Blanche stated that both he and President Donald Trump support Pirro, while acknowledging the president's frustration with the case dismissal, as there may still be elements of potential vandalism involved.
Blanche clarified that the court filings did not definitively conclude that all damage was due to construction faults, noting a witness's claim of having seen Hearn vandalizing the pool. However, he emphasized that witness accounts alone do not provide sufficient evidence for prosecution. Hearn has maintained his innocence.
Despite the challenges in the case, Blanche praised Pirro's efforts in prosecuting vandalism against memorials and monuments, referencing a separate case involving a veterans memorial where a suspect was charged with property destruction. He mentioned that he would consider the White House's request for the Justice Department to investigate the possibility of new misdemeanor charges against Hearn after the dismissal of the original case. The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment.