President Donald Trump has publicly criticised U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after she moved to dismiss felony vandalism charges against former Olympian David Hearn over alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, creating a rare public split within his administration.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said he “disagrees 100 per cent” with Pirro’s decision, insisting the damage was “a pure case of vandalism.”
“I don’t know what she was thinking,” Trump wrote, claiming the vandalism also included damage to nearby grass, where “86 47” had allegedly been marked in large letters.
Pirro cites faulty construction, not vandalism
The remarks came a day after Pirro filed a motion to dismiss the criminal case, saying newly discovered evidence showed the damage was primarily caused by a flawed installation carried out by the contractor responsible for refurbishing the Reflecting Pool.
According to the filing, the project was rushed to meet deadlines tied to America 250 Independence Day celebrations, and investigators could no longer confidently attribute the damage to vandalism beyond a reasonable doubt.
Pirro’s office also said information provided after the indictment suggested the contractor’s work, rather than Hearn’s actions, was responsible for the widespread deterioration of the newly installed liner.
David Hearn had denied allegations
Hearn, a three time Olympian, had pleaded not guilty to a felony property destruction charge after being accused of damaging the pool during a visit in June.
He maintained throughout the case that the liner was already peeling when he arrived and said he briefly touched the damaged material before stopping when instructed by a park employee.
The felony charge carried a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
Critics demand apology
The dismissal prompted criticism from legal experts, commentators and Hearn’s supporters, many of whom argued the case should never have been filed.
Several lawyers accused the Justice Department of rushing to prosecute before completing a full investigation, while others called for an apology to Hearn.
Conservative commentator Scott Jennings said Hearn deserved an apology, while other legal analysts described the prosecution as politically motivated.
Trump doubles down
Despite Pirro’s filing, Trump continued to argue that vandals were responsible for the damage and shared a video that he claimed showed individuals cutting or damaging the Reflecting Pool liner.
The footage, however, has been widely debated online because its quality makes it difficult to clearly determine what occurred.
The dispute marks an unusual public disagreement between Trump and one of his own senior Justice Department appointees over a high profile criminal case.