Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool stories

Aug 3, 2026

Trump criticizes Jeanine Pirro over dropped Reflecting Pool case

President Trump publicly criticized U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro for dropping criminal charges against a former Olympian accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying she 'choked' and 'folded like an umbrella.'

Aug 3, 2026·4 sources

Jul 31, 2026

Justice Department drops case against former Olympian charged with damaging Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

The Justice Department moved to dismiss criminal charges against a former Olympian accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying evidence showed the damage was caused by flawed installation work rather than deliberate vandalism.

Jul 31, 2026·3 sources

Top claims

▪Contractors used hydrogen peroxide to kill algae, but the chemical is a paint thinner and caused the pool's "American flag blue" lining to peel.
▪David Hearn, a 67-year-old, was accused of "forcefully and violently" pulling up the pool liner and maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal.
▪On August 3, 2026, President Donald Trump told reporters that Jeanine Pirro "choked" and "folded like an umbrella."