Jeanine Pirro drops vandalism charges against David Hearn after the administration admits the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool damage was caused by shoddy workmanship.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has officially dropped the criminal charges against Olympic canoeist David Hearn for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The decision follows a formal admission by the administration that the damage was not caused by Hearn, but was instead the result of shoddy workmanship by a contractor during a recent renovation. President Trump had previously insisted on the Hearn indictment, seeking to hold the athlete accountable for touching a piece of sealant in the pool. However, the administration announced that the damage was a result of preexisting problems and the rush to complete the project before the 2026 America 250 celebration. While Pirro's office initially pursued the case based on political considerations, the Interior Department's findings confirmed the pool's condition was a result of bungled work. This development highlights a rare moment where the administration contradicted the president's personal narrative. While President Trump remains a staunch defender of his projects, the official government records now confirm that the damage was a result of contractor error rather than individual vandalism.