The Justice Department dismissed the criminal case involving vandalism of the Lincoln Reflecting Pool on Friday.
Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn had been arrested in June and initially charged with a misdemeanor for destroying property at the pool.
Last month a grand jury indicted Hearn on felony charges of destruction of government property, exposing him to a potential ten‑year prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the case would be dropped, attributing the damage to a “flawed installation by the contractor.”
President Trump responded with sharp criticism, describing Pirro’s decision as a mistake and expressing disappointment in her handling of the matter.
He suggested that the absence of surveillance cameras at the reflecting pool hindered the investigation and implied that the outcome could have been different with video evidence.
Trump also alleged that a judge’s attitude toward Pirro contributed to her decision, claiming the judge was “unfriendly” and that the focus shifted from the perpetrators to Pirro’s office.
During a press interaction, Trump confronted a reporter who questioned Pirro’s standing as U.S. Attorney, labeling the inquiry as “fake news” and demanding the reporter not speak again.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions within the Justice Department over the handling of high‑profile cases.
