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David Hearn faces legal recourse after the administration drops felony vandalism charges due to flawed construction

The administration announced the dismissal of felony property destruction charges against former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro moved to drop the charges after new evidence from the Interior Department revealed that the damage was caused by a faulty contractor installation and a rushed project timeline rather than Hearn's actions. David Hearn's attorneys argued that the government should not receive credit for correcting a mistake they claim was obvious from the start. They contend that the prosecution was rushed and lacked a good-faith basis, noting that the pool liner was deteriorating before the indictment was even issued. While the administration's decision to drop the charges was a move toward correction, President Trump expressed personal disappointment with the move. He criticized Jeanine Pirro for "choking" and "folding like an umbrella" because she admitted the narrative of vandalism was not legally prosecutable. David Hearn's legal team is now seeking a permanent dismissal with prejudice to prevent the government from refiling the charges.

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