U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced support for U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro regarding the decision to dismiss a vandalism case related to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. On July 31, federal prosecutors opted to drop charges against Olympic canoeist David Hearn. He had initially been accused of causing damage to the $14 million renovation. However, evidence suggested the damage resulted from a flawed renovation instead of vandalism.
Despite supporting Pirro, Blanche acknowledged President Donald Trump’s frustration over the case’s dismissal due to potential vandalism. Blanche emphasized his backing for Pirro and mentioned Trump’s shared support, remarking on Trump’s understandable frustration.
The court filings indicated that not all damage was confirmed as construction flaws. A witness allegedly observed Hearn vandalizing the pool, but witness testimony alone lacked sufficient proof.
Hearn consistently denied any wrongdoing. Blanche reiterated that witness statements differed from conclusive proof in legal terms.
Meanwhile, Pirro’s office pursued a separate vandalism case involving a $1,000 fine for damage to a veterans memorial. In this incident, suspect Melissa L. Farris allegedly used pink spray paint and added bubble soap to the memorial’s fountain.
Blanche praised Pirro’s efforts in prosecuting vandalism cases, stating her work should not be judged based solely on this singular case. He acknowledged a White House request for the Justice Department to explore new charges against Hearn after dismissing the previous case.
Blanche mentioned considering President Trump’s viewpoint in future decisions, noting its importance in decision-making processes.