President Donald Trump criticizes U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after the Justice Department moves to dismiss a criminal case involving alleged vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Multiple reports say Pirro, a longtime ally and Trump ally in leadership roles, agreed to the dismissal after prosecutors concluded the government could not establish the claimed offense. NBC News and The Hill report that Trump says he does not agree with the decision and publicly faulted Pirro for dropping the matter.
The case involves former Olympian David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool area at the Lincoln Memorial. According to The Hill, prosecutors said the damage stemmed from what they described as a “rushed and botched installation” connected to the tidal basin’s construction rather than conduct that fits the alleged vandalism. Bloomberg similarly reports that Trump rebukes Pirro for dropping the case.
Together, the accounts describe a dispute between Trump and Pirro following the DOJ’s determination to withdraw the vandalism charge, with Trump expressing disagreement and highlighting Pirro’s role in the outcome.
