Trump Criticizes Jeanine Pirro Over Reflecting Pool Case Decision
President Donald Trump criticized U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro (JDCC), over her decision to drop a vandalism case against David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool. In an Oval Office meeting with reporters, Trump called Pirro’s actions a mistake and said she 'choked' by dismissing charges after new information suggested flawed installation work caused the damage. Pirro had filed the case in early July but later admitted her office received evidence pointing to contractor error rather than vandalism. Trump expressed disappointment on Truth Social and during his press briefing, suggesting he was reconsidering Pirro's position without directly confirming it. The White House referred inquiries back to the president’s comments. The Reflecting Pool renovation had been a point of contention for Trump, who claimed vandals were responsible for damage using knives or box cutters.
