White House Seeks New Charges in Lincoln Memorial Vandalism Case

The White House has urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to consider new charges against David Hearn for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This request comes after previous felony charges against Hearn were dismissed by federal prosecutors.

The initial dismissal, handled by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, was attributed to findings from the Department of the Interior. Their report suggested that the observed damage, including cracks and algae growth, was due to flaws in the installation process, not vandalism.

According to The Wall Street Journal, White House officials are now inquiring if Hearn could face a misdemeanor charge instead. No definitive decision has been reached yet.

“If true, it would mark a shocking first: a case that the DOJ lost by its own admission because it lacked the evidence to convict, returning from the dead,” said Hearn’s attorneys in a joint statement.

The statement, challenging the credibility of such a move, was issued by Norm Eisen, Mary Dohrmann, and Steve Levin, who are representing Hearn.

President Donald Trump has publicly voiced his disagreement with Jeanine Pirro’s decision to drop the charges. He claims that knife-like slashes were found in the pool’s material and that individuals were seen tampering with the pool.

U.S. Park Police report that on June 19, Hearn was seen attempting to remove a section of the pool’s coating, despite being warned by National Park Service employees.

The damage was estimated to cost $1,000, leading to Hearn’s initial indictment on a felony charge of property destruction. Trump criticized Hearn’s alleged political ties and urged for a reconsideration of the decision.

As the situation stands, the potential for renewed prosecution remains, reflecting ongoing tensions within the administration regarding the vandalism allegations.