DOJ admits Reflecting Pool renovations were 'hasty and botched', contradicting Trump

Donald Trump launched a massive $14 million renovation project for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool before the country's 250th anniversary celebrations

Daniel Heuer / REUTERS The “radical vandals” President Donald Trump blamed for ruining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool have turned out not to be the culprits after all. The president repeatedly accused unknown “thugs” of slicing into the landmark after its multimillion-dollar renovation, but his own Justice Depar

The US Justice Department on Friday dropped its case against a former Olympian accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying the hurried renovations ordered by President Donald Trump had been botched. David Hearn, 67, had been charged with felony vandalism in federal court, which carried a potential

Laura Coates rips botched reflecting pool case: ‘Erodes faith in DOJ’  CNN

Trump administration prosecutors admitted Friday that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was due to a "botched installation."

The US Department of Justice has moved to drop a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Here's why.

A 67-year-old had been charged with felony vandalism in US federal court.

President Donald Trump had blamed "sick" vandals, and a former Olympian had been charged, but prosecutors now say contractors caused the damage.

In a Friday afternoon court filing, the government moved to dismiss criminal charges against a former Olympian they accused of vandalism, and admitted Trump’s rush to ready the pool by July 4 contributed to the situation.

In a Friday afternoon court filing, the government moved to dismiss criminal charges against a former Olympian they accused of vandalism, and admitted Trump’s rush to ready the pool by July 4 contributed to the situation.

Trump Administration Admits Reflecting Pool Wasn’t Attacked by Canoeist  New York Magazine

The government had accused David Hearn of ripping a piece of sealant after a $14 million renovation. Hearn has repeatedly said that he simply touched the water in the pool out of curiosity last month.

Hearn said he only touched a piece of paint that had peeled off from the reflecting pool.

Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss an indictment charging U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn with ripping the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying the damage was caused by "botched installation and not vandalism."

Jeanine Pirro’s office blames Trump’s Department of Interior after she and the president publicly raged against David Hearn

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has dropped its case against a former Olympic canoeist charged in connection with damage to the Reflecting Pool, acknowledging their allegations against David “Davey” Hearn don’t hold water.

The July 31 court filing reveals that the sealant at the bottom of the Reflectiong Pool had "[a]lmost immediately" begun peeling after the work.