Trump blasts Pirro after she refutes his claim that Reflecting Pool was damaged by vandals

President Donald Trump publicly criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after her office moved to dismiss criminal charges against former Olympian David Hearn regarding alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. While Trump insists the pool was vandalized, a court filing from Pirro’s office attributes the damage to a botched renovation project conducted by a contractor. The Justice Department, which had previously supported the vandalism claims, now argues that the pool's widespread deterioration resulted from a rushed installation ahead of national anniversary celebrations. Hearn, who had faced felony charges for allegedly cutting the pool's lining, maintains his innocence. Pirro’s filing suggested that the government would not have sought an indictment had the Interior Department provided complete information from the start. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum contested this, asserting that his department provided all evidence, including video of potential vandalism, to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Trump rejected the dismissal, citing his own security footage as proof of intentional sabotage, though the video's content remains inconclusive. Legal representatives for Hearn condemned the prosecution as an attempt to blame their client for the administration's own construction failures. The incident marks a rare public disagreement between the president and a political appointee during his second term. Investigations into the $14.7 million contract awarded for the pool's refurbishment are ongoing.