More Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool charges dropped by Pirro's office

In a significant turn of events, prosecutors in Washington have dropped misdemeanor charges against three individuals accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This move by the U.S. Attorney's office, led by Jeanine Pirro, comes shortly after similar charges were dismissed against former Olympian David Hearn. The defendants include Justin Carreno, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Cameron Thiers, all of whom were accused of property damage valued at less than $1,000.

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damaged the pool

The decision to drop the charges appears to stem from new information that has come to light. Prosecutors stated that the damage to the pool was likely caused by a "botched installation" performed by a contractor. This occurred during a rush to complete the project ahead of the America 250 events. Internal documents obtained by the Department of the Interior reportedly indicate that the pool experienced frequent setbacks due to poor weather and damage sustained during the sealant application process.

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should never have been brought

Attorneys for David Hearn issued a statement asserting that his case "should never have been brought" and that the government "owes Mr. Hearn an apology." Hearn himself had been accused of ripping a piece of sealant from the pool, causing damage exceeding $1,000, though he denied any wrongdoing. He stated he was merely touching the pool during a bike ride when he was arrested.

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I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro... I don't know what the hell happened.

The dismissal of charges has drawn criticism from President Trump, who expressed disappointment with Pirro's decision, stating she "choked" and "made a mistake." He maintained his belief that "vandals" were responsible for the damage. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum echoed the White House's sentiment, posting on X that "evidence is clear, vandals have repeatedly caused damage to the Reflecting Pool," and that eyewitness testimony and expert evidence were provided to the U.S. Attorney's office.

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evidence is clear, vandals have repeatedly caused damage to the Reflecting Pool.