Trump Criticizes Decision to Dismiss Reflecting Pool Vandalism Case

President Donald Trump recently intensified his critique of the dismissal of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism case. He referenced a National Park Service employee’s account alleging that former Olympian David Hearn aggressively damaged the pool’s coating before authorities intervened.

Trump shared a screenshot from court documents on Truth Social, which included interviews with two National Park Service employees present during Hearn’s alleged actions. One employee, identified as W-1, reported that Hearn appeared to capture images or videos of the pool’s damage with his phone.

An employee said Hearn “knelt, placed both hands into the reflecting pool, below the surface of the water, and started to ‘violently’ rip and tug at a large portion of the blue pool coating,” according to the document Trump posted.

The document notes that W-1 instructed another employee to contact the police while cautioning Hearn against further damaging the coating. Despite being warned, Hearn allegedly continued until National Guard members arrived.

Trump pointed to this eyewitness account as federal prosecutors decided to drop the felony charge against Hearn. Trump’s message emphasized the testimony, noting it supported claims of deliberate damage.

Trump also claimed additional incidents at the Reflecting Pool site, alleging the use of an “acid-like material” on surrounding grass, with “86 47” reportedly written there.

The president recognized that contractors played a part in the pool’s condition, citing “some contractor error” during quick renovation efforts, while dismissing their contribution as limited.

He assured that work on the pool continues, with plans for reopening soon and security cameras being installed. The president’s comments followed his earlier call for U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to revisit the case.

Hearn was indicted on July 2 for felony property destruction after U.S. Park Police accused him of pulling on a loose section of the pool’s coating on June 19. The damage was initially claimed to exceed $1,000.

Pirro’s office later indicated that they relied on incomplete reports from the Department of the Interior before the indictment. Newer documents linked some Reflecting Pool damage to a flawed installation by contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which aimed to finish the project before the America 250 celebration.

The government faced challenges proving Hearn’s responsibility for the damage beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to the case’s dismissal without prejudice. This leaves room for potential future charges.

Trump has criticized Pirro’s decision multiple times, disagreeing with the dismissal and suggesting pressure influenced her choice. Hearn’s legal team argued the case should not have been filed, asserting their client’s innocence.