{"id":40348,"date":"2026-08-12T07:47:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T02:47:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=40348"},"modified":"2026-08-12T07:47:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T02:47:09","slug":"white-house-asks-doj-to-revisit-prosecution-over-reflecting-pool-damage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=40348","title":{"rendered":"White House asks DOJ to revisit prosecution over Reflecting Pool damage"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">White House officials have asked the <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2079713\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/justice-department\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Department of Justice<\/a> (DOJ) to explore whether it would be possible to pursue a new prosecution against the man accused of vandalizing the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, weeks after federal prosecutors moved to dismiss felony charges against him, Fox News has learned.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">The previous case, which U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro&#8217;s office moved to dismiss on July 31, accused Olympic canoeist David Hearn of damaging the costly $14 million project after cracks, algae growth and peeling sealant were discovered.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Pirro&#8217;s office cited findings from the Department of the Interior that concluded the damage was linked to flaws in the installation process rather than vandalism.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">White House officials have since reached out to the DOJ to determine whether Hearn could instead face a misdemeanor charge, as first reported by <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2079714\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/us-news\/law\/white-house-asks-justice-department-to-consider-new-reflecting-pool-prosecution-1bbf8d8b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Wall Street Journal.<\/a> No final decision has been made, Fox News has learned.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2079715\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-urges-jeanine-pirro-revisit-dropped-lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool-vandalism-case\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TRUMP URGES JEANINE PIRRO TO REVISIT DROPPED LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM CASE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/trump-pirro-swearing-in-oval-office.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/trump-pirro-swearing-in-oval-office.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/trump-pirro-swearing-in-oval-office.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/trump-pirro-swearing-in-oval-office.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/trump-pirro-swearing-in-oval-office.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/trump-pirro-swearing-in-oval-office.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/trump-pirro-swearing-in-oval-office.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/trump-pirro-swearing-in-oval-office.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/trump-pirro-swearing-in-oval-office.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"President Donald Trump looks on as Jeanine Pirro speaks during her swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>President Donald Trump has urged U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to revisit the recently dropped charges over vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.<\/span> <span>(Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">In response to the move, Hearn&#8217;s attorneys said pursuing a new case would only undermine the DOJ&#8217;s credibility after prosecutors already acknowledged they lacked sufficient evidence to support the original charges.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;If true, it would mark a shocking first: a case that the DOJ lost by its own admission because it lacked the evidence to convict, returning from the dead. This would add another bizarre turn to a sad chapter in the DOJ&#8217;s history and further harass an innocent man,&#8221; the attorneys said in a joint statement.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The statement was issued by Norm Eisen of Democracy Defenders Fund, Mary Dohrmann of <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2079716\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/washington-dc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Washington Litigation Group<\/a>, and Steve Levin of Steptoe LLP.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2079717\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-disagrees-100-percent-us-attorney-jeanine-pirro-reflecting-pool-case\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TRUMP SAYS HE &#8216;DISAGREES 100%&#8217; WITH U.S. ATTORNEY JEANINE PIRRO OVER REFLECTING POOL CASE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/343\/192\/national-guard-reflecting-pool.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/686\/384\/national-guard-reflecting-pool.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/672\/378\/national-guard-reflecting-pool.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1344\/756\/national-guard-reflecting-pool.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/931\/523\/national-guard-reflecting-pool.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1862\/1046\/national-guard-reflecting-pool.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/720\/405\/national-guard-reflecting-pool.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1440\/810\/national-guard-reflecting-pool.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1200\/675\/national-guard-reflecting-pool.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"National Guardsmen near reflecting pool in D.C.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Members of the National Guard walk by as workers apply a coat of paint to the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall on Thursday in Washington, D.C.<\/span> <span>(Andrew Harnik\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">While Pirro&#8217;s office has moved to drop the original federal case, prosecutors sought a dismissal without prejudice, meaning the charges could potentially be brought again.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The possibility of a renewed prosecution comes as the Trump administration has repeatedly maintained that <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2079718\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/white-house-condemns-targeted-sabotage-reflecting-pool-repairs-pushed-past-july-4-celebration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the damage was caused by vandalism<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">President Donald Trump said slashes were found in the pool&#8217;s material that appeared to have been made with a knife. He also claimed people had been seen kneeling at those exact locations with their hands in the water.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">U.S. Park Police identified Hearn as a suspect after he was reportedly seen grabbing and tugging on a loose section of the pool&#8217;s coating on June 19. Police said he continued to do so even after National Park Service employees urged him to stop.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2079719\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/trump-doubles-down-reflecting-pool-vandalism-allegations-cites-new-witness-account\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM ALLEGATIONS, CITES NEW WITNESS ACCOUNT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/343\/192\/olympian-reflecting-pool-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/686\/384\/olympian-reflecting-pool-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/672\/378\/olympian-reflecting-pool-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1344\/756\/olympian-reflecting-pool-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/931\/523\/olympian-reflecting-pool-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1862\/1046\/olympian-reflecting-pool-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/720\/405\/olympian-reflecting-pool-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1440\/810\/olympian-reflecting-pool-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1200\/675\/olympian-reflecting-pool-fox-news.jpeg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"david hearn and reflecting pool tear\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>David Hearn has been accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. He has maintained his innocence.\u00a0<\/span> <span>(David Madison\/Getty Images, File; Annabelle Gordon\/Reuters)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The damage was estimated at about $1,000 and resulted in Hearn&#8217;s indictment on July 2 on one count of felony destruction of property.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Trump has urged Pirro to reconsider her &#8220;hastily made&#8221; decision to drop that felony charge and criticized Hearn&#8217;s alleged political connections, claiming he was a &#8220;big player&#8221; in the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;<a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_2079720\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/attorney-general\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro<\/a> should re-visit her hastily made decision, especially since it turned out that the \u2018gentleman\u2019 involved is a big player in ActBlue, a disgraceful fundraising SCAM, and is represented by a TRUMP DERANGED SLEAZEBAG, Political Hack Lawyer, Norm Eisen, and CREW, a group that uses \u2018charity\u2019 for political purposes which is, to the best of my knowledge, ILLEGAL!&#8221; Trump said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Trump later said Pirro &#8220;choked&#8221; under pressure from a judge regarding the case and &#8220;folded like an \u200bumbrella.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Bonny Chu is a Breaking and Trending News Writer for Fox News Digital<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! White House officials have asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to explore whether it would be possible to pursue a new prosecution against the man accused of vandalizing the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, weeks after federal prosecutors moved to dismiss felony charges against him, Fox&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40349,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/trump-pirro-swearing-in-oval-office.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/40349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=40348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=40348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}