White House officials have inquired with the Justice Department about the possibility of initiating a new criminal case against David Hearn. Hearn, a former Olympian, was initially accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial. This follows an earlier move by federal prosecutors to dismiss the indictment against him.
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, charged Hearn with felony destruction of government property. The accusations involved more than $1,000 in damage to the sealant recently applied to the Reflecting Pool’s base. President Trump had supported the pool’s renovation project.
Federal prosecutors chose to dismiss the charges earlier this month without prejudice. This decision leaves open the option to revisit the case. New insights indicated a “botched installation” by a contractor, rather than vandalism, caused the damage.
President Trump voiced his disagreement about the dismissal on Truth Social, stressing vandalism as the primary cause of damage despite potential contractor issues. “I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool,” Trump stated.
Following criticism from both President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Pirro was seen at the White House with materials from the Interior Department. These materials reportedly cleared Hearn and others from vandalism charges. A D.C. Superior Court judge had dismissed the case, leaving open whether it would be dismissed with or without prejudice. Further proceedings will ensue later this summer and early fall.
Conversations between the White House and the Criminal Division took place last week. They explored the possibility of reclassifying the case as a misdemeanor. This approach would bypass the need for a grand jury. As of now, these discussions remain exploratory without a confirmed decision.
Prosecutors in Washington also decided to drop charges against three other defendants previously accused of misdemeanor property damage under $1,000.
Michael Bromwich, representing Hearn, expressed bafflement at the persistent efforts to reinstate the case. “The case was dismissed due to a lack of evidence. Continuing to pursue it wastes resources and targets Mr. Hearn unnecessarily,” Bromwich commented.