Lawyers in Reflecting Pool case say Justice Department knew case was flawed
The filing cites weather delays, material shortages and testing failures, saying the $14 million renovation was rushed and flawed.
- On Friday, the Justice Department dropped vandalism charges against former Olympian David Hearn, blaming rushed installation rather than criminal damage for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's deterioration during President Donald Trump's $14 million renovation.
- Trump's demand to complete the nearly 340,000-square-foot pool before America's 250th birthday on July Fourth drove costs nearly seven times above the $1.8 million estimate, overwhelming Virginia-based contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings with weather delays and material shortages.
- National Park Service engineers flagged peeling along the pool perimeter by June 11, warning the 'overspray could lead to a 1-to-2-foot strip that is vulnerable to peeling,' while algae blooms one day after refilling required a $1.7 million treatment.
- After prosecutors reviewed damage July 17 and received documents showing 'rushed and flawed installation' with 'extensive peeling,' D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro abandoned the case, contradicting weeks of vandalism claims from Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
- Trump publicly disagreed '100%' with Pirro, insisting vandals caused the deterioration, while Burgum maintained the government could 'absolutely prove' vandalism with photographs despite dodging questions about whether images showed actual damage.
105 Articles
105 Articles
Democrats ask Interior watchdog to investigate response to Reflecting Pool damage
Sens. Whitehouse and Heinrich say the inspector general must probe the agency’s internal documents after Justice Department officials said Interior concealed information about damage to the pool’s renovations.
Former Olympian David Hearn’s attorneys want Reflecting Pool vandalism case permanently dismissed
(WASHINGTON) - Attorneys for David Hearn, who was alleged to have vandalized the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, filed a motion in D.C. Superior Court, citing "exceptional facts and circumstances" to have the indictment against him dismissed with prejudice. The Justice Department moved last week to dismiss the criminal case against Hearn, a former Olympian, acknowledging the damage to the pool "was the result of flawed installation by the cont…
Former Olympian David Hearn's attorneys want Reflecting Pool vandalism case permanently dismissed
Attorneys for David Hearn, who was alleged to have vandalized the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, filed a motion to have the indictment dismissed with prejudice.
Federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro admitted that the damage to the site was due to a sloppy installation.
Associated Press News
Lawyers in Reflecting Pool case say Justice Department knew case was flawed
Lawyers for a former Olympian charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool say that the Justice Department knew or should have known for weeks that its case was flawed.
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