Trump To Fire Top Ally For Betraying Him?

President Trump criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Saturday after the Justice Department moved to dismiss the criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn over damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

The Justice Department asked a federal court on Friday to drop the charges, concluding that the damage was caused by problems with the pool’s installation rather than by vandalism. Trump publicly distanced himself from that decision a day later, saying he strongly disagreed with Pirro’s handling of the case.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said he believed the incident was “a pure case of vandalism,” arguing that damage extended beyond the pool itself to nearby grass, where large “86 47” markings had allegedly been left, along with other damage to the surrounding area.

Hearn had been indicted earlier this month after prosecutors accused him of forcefully tearing the liner at the bottom of the Reflecting Pool. He pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of destruction of government property.

However, prosecutors later said newly uncovered evidence indicated the pool had experienced significant construction problems before Hearn’s arrest. According to court filings, the renovation project suffered repeated delays due to poor weather, problems sealing expansion joints, and shortages of construction materials. The filing also cited overspraying and delamination as contributing factors behind the deterioration.

The renovation project had already drawn scrutiny after blue paint began peeling from the pool and algae blooms developed, forcing the basin to be drained multiple times for repairs.

Despite acknowledging there may have been issues with the contractors, Trump maintained that vandals were responsible for the most significant damage. In a separate Truth Social post, he shared video of the alleged incident, claiming it showed material being cut with a knife or box cutter.

Federal prosecutors also noted that the section Hearn allegedly handled was not located where investigators believe the primary vandalism occurred. Court filings further revealed that a National Park Service engineer had raised concerns about peeling and other defects days before Hearn was arrested.

Given the newly discovered evidence, prosecutors said they could no longer prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hearn was responsible for the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool.

The renovation was part of President Trump’s broader effort to restore and beautify Washington, D.C., ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. A federal judge will ultimately decide whether to approve the Justice Department’s request to dismiss the charges against Hearn.