White House Urges DOJ to Reconsider Charges in Reflecting Pool Case

The White House has asked the Department of Justice to explore whether former Olympic canoeist David Hearn could face new charges related to alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, weeks after federal prosecutors moved to dismiss the original felony case against him. The discussions, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, come after President Donald Trump publicly criticized the decision to drop the prosecution.

The controversy stems from an incident on June 19, when Hearn, 67, was accused of damaging the pool's newly installed sealant during a visit. He was initially charged with a misdemeanor, which was later upgraded to a felony count of destruction of government property. Hearn pleaded not guilty on July 9, maintaining that he did not intentionally vandalize the site.

The case took a significant turn in mid-July. After the pool was drained for repairs on July 17, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and her team observed extensive damage throughout the structure. An investigation with the Department of the Interior subsequently indicated the deterioration was linked to a flawed installation by the contractor, not to Hearn's actions. On July 31, Pirro's office...