White House Seeks Review of Lincoln Memorial Pool Vandalism Case

White House officials are pushing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to consider a potential new legal action regarding the vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This follows a decision by federal prosecutors to drop felony charges against the accused, David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist.

The charges were initially dismissed after the Department of the Interior determined the damage was due to installation issues, not vandalism. Despite this, the White House is exploring the possibility of pursuing a misdemeanor charge against Hearn, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

President Donald Trump has expressed his dissatisfaction with the recent case dismissal, urging U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to revisit the proceedings. The original charges, dropped on July 31, stem from damage discovered to the $14 million renovation project, which included cracks and other signs of wear.

Hearn’s legal team criticized the idea of reviving the case, arguing that it undermines the DOJ’s credibility. The attorneys suggest that relaunching charges acknowledges insufficient evidence previously admitted by prosecutors. The defense includes Norm Eisen, Mary Dohrmann, and Steve Levin, who jointly released a statement highlighting their concerns over the DOJ’s actions.

Despite the federal case dismissal, which was without prejudice, there is still a possibility of renewed prosecution. President Trump and the administration maintain that vandalism was responsible for the damages, with slashes reportedly found that may have been caused intentionally. Trump’s comments include a call-out of Hearn’s alleged political associations, suggesting motivations behind the initial charges and decisions to drop them.

U.S. Park Police had identified Hearn as a suspect after he was allegedly seen tampering with the pool’s coating, accusations he denies. The estimated damage was around $1,000, leading to an initial felony charge. Even with the case dropped, discussions about the incident and potential future legal actions persist.