Blanche Defends Pirro Amid Trump Criticism Over Dropped Charges

Attorney General Todd Blanche publicly defended Washington, D.C.'s top federal prosecutor, Jeanine Pirro, on Sunday while acknowledging President Donald Trump's frustration over her decision to drop vandalism charges against a former Olympian. In interviews on NBC's Meet the Press, Blanche expressed support for both Pirro and the president, attempting to balance loyalty with concerns about the Justice Department's independence.

The controversy stems from the case of David Hearn, a former U.S. Olympian charged in connection with damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The Trump administration had fast-tracked a $14.7 million renovation of the pool, which was completed ahead of the nation's Fourth of July celebrations. Within weeks, an algae bloom appeared and material at the pool's bottom began to peel. Federal authorities initially charged Hearn and others with vandalism.

On July 31, Pirro's office moved to dismiss the indictment against Hearn. Evidence from the Interior Department indicated the damage was caused by the flawed renovation work of a contractor, not intentional vandalism. Trump publicly disagreed with Pirro's decision, calling on her to revisit it and...