Donald Trump slams U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after DOJ drops Reflecting Pool vandalism case

Donald Trump Jeanine Pirro Reflecting Pool David Hearn DOJ dismissal

Federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., dismissed all four criminal cases tied to damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, including the felony indictment of former Olympic canoeist David Hearn. Interior Department records showed the pool’s peeling liner resulted from a rushed, flawed installation by Atlantic Industrial Coatings, not vandalism.

President Donald Trump publicly rebuked U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, saying she “choked” and “folded like an umbrella,” expressing disappointment and suggesting she might be removed from her post. Pirro’s office moved to dismiss the charges after receiving the new Interior Department evidence, citing shoddy construction as the cause of the damage. Trump also claimed surveillance footage showed people cutting the newly installed waterproofing material, maintaining that the damage was vandalism despite the Justice Department’s findings. The dismissals affect the four defendants, including Hearn, who had pleaded not guilty, and have led to personal and reputational harm for those arrested. The episode has become a high‑profile political clash between the president and his hand‑picked federal prosecutor.

Entities: Atlantic Industrial Coatings · David Hearn · Donald Trump · Jeanine Pirro · Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool · U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia · U.S. Department of Justice · U.S. Department of the Interior

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 4 SOURCES] David Hearn pleaded not guilty to the felony charge. (David Hearn)
[● 15 SOURCES] The Justice Department filing concluded that the Reflecting Pool damage was caused by a hasty, botched renovation rather than vandalism. (Justice Department)
[● 8 SOURCES] Atlantic Industrial Coatings was awarded a $14.7 million no‑bid contract to repaint and waterproof the Reflecting Pool. (Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which was awarded a $14.7 million no‑bid contract …)
[● 20 SOURCES] David Hearn, former Olympian, was charged with felony property destruction for alleged Reflecting Pool damage. (David Hearn, a former Olympian, was charged with felony property destruction …)
[● 6 SOURCES] Trump considered removing/firing Jeanine Pirro over the Reflecting Pool case. (President Donald Trump is considering removing Jeanine Pirro …)
[● 20 SOURCES] President Donald Trump said Jeanine Pirro “choked” and “folded like an umbrella”. (Trump said she “choked” and “folded like an umbrella” in moving to drop charges …)
[● 7 SOURCES] Trump claimed surveillance footage showed people cutting newly installed waterproofing material around the pool. (Trump claimed surveillance footage showed people cutting newly installed waterproofing material …)
[● 19 SOURCES] Pirro’s office moved to dismiss the criminal charge against David Hearn after receiving new Interior Department information. (Pirro’s office moved to dismiss the criminal charge against David Hearn after receiving new Interior Department …)
[● 4 SOURCES] President Trump is considering removing/firing U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro over the Reflecting Pool case. (Donald Trump (via statements and sources))
[● 7 SOURCES] President Donald Trump said Jeanine Pirro “choked” and “folded like an umbrella” after she moved to drop the Reflecting Pool case. (Donald Trump)
[● 3 SOURCES] Jeanine Pirro’s office filed a motion to dismiss the criminal charge against David Hearn after receiving new Interior Department information. (Jeanine Pirro’s office)
[● 4 SOURCES] Federal prosecutors dismissed all four Reflecting Pool vandalism cases, including the felony indictment of David Hearn. (Federal prosecutors have dismissed the remaining three cases alleging vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool,)