DOJ Backstabs Trump, Exposes Him As A Liar

The Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss its criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn, concluding that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was caused by construction problems rather than vandalism.

In a new court filing, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office said the evidence no longer supports prosecuting Hearn, who had pleaded not guilty earlier this month to a felony charge of destruction of government property.

According to prosecutors, newly obtained records showed the renovation project suffered significant setbacks almost from the beginning. The filing cited heavy rain, strong winds, repeated failures in testing expansion joint seals, and delays in obtaining sealing materials, all of which contributed to what prosecutors described as a rushed and flawed installation.

The Justice Department argued that pressure to complete the project resulted in poor workmanship that was never fully corrected before construction crews removed protective fencing and reopened the area.

Hearn had been accused of forcefully tearing part of the Reflecting Pool’s newly installed liner, allegedly causing more than $1,000 in damage to roughly two square feet of sealant. However, prosecutors now say much of the deterioration occurred in areas where vandalism was unlikely, and evidence suggests the problems existed before Hearn was arrested.

The filing also places responsibility on contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which received a multimillion-dollar contract for the renovation, as well as the Interior Department, whose initial report on the incident prosecutors described as incomplete.

According to the Justice Department, a National Park Service engineer had raised concerns about peeling and other defects days before Hearn’s arrest, but prosecutors said they were unaware of the broader construction issues until after charges had already been filed.

Based on the newly uncovered evidence, prosecutors concluded they could no longer prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hearn was responsible for the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool. A federal judge will make the final decision on whether to dismiss the charges.

The Reflecting Pool renovation is one of several projects being carried out as part of President Trump’s effort to restore and improve Washington, D.C., ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.