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Trump criticizes prosecutor after dropped Reflecting Pool vandalism case
The dispute centers on a $14.7 million renovation that developed algae blooms and peeling blue lining, with prosecutors now saying the damage stemmed from construction rather than vandalism.
US President Donald Trump sharply criticized US Attorney Jeanine Pirro for dropping a case tied to alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington.
In remarks reported by SCMP Economy, Trump said he believed Pirro had backed down under pressure from a judge, and he argued the case should have stayed focused on alleged perpetrators. He also pointed to surveillance footage he said showed people cutting newly installed waterproofing material around the pool.
Pirro’s office said in a court filing that the damage resulted from shoddy construction, not vandalism, and it moved to drop charges against former Olympian David Hearn, accused of deliberately damaging the newly renovated pool ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration.
SCMP Economy also noted that the renovated pool quickly developed algae that tinted the water green, and pieces of the blue lining peeled off, a problem that has drawn criticism for the $14.7 million renovation.