DOJ drops Reflecting Pool case, now says no evidence of damage by vandalism

The Justice Department filed to dismiss charges against a former Olympian.

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

The US Justice Department has dropped its case against a former Olympian accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

The US Department of Justice has moved to dismiss its case against Olympian David Hearn.

White House drops charges against former Olympian accused of vandalising Reflecting Pool after new evidence emerges  GB News

DOJ to drop Reflecting Pool vandalism case against David Hearn  ESPN

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

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

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

The U.S. government dismissed the felony indictment against David Hearn, the former Olympian accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool of the National Mall.

The Trump administration dropped charges against a former Olympic canoeist over damage to the renovated Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, saying new evidence showed the contractor was to blame. NBC News’ Garrett Haake reports.

Federal prosecutors suggested that the damage was instead due to a rushed installation.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro has filed a motion to dismiss the indictment against former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in June. In moving to dismiss the case, Pirro admitted that the damage to the landmark was the “result of flawed ins

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.

The US Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Government lawyers said in a 20-page court filing that information provided since the indictment of David Hearn shows that the damage was the result of a “flawed

Prosecutors Drop Case Against Olympic Canoeist Charged With Vandalizing Reflecting Pool  WSJ

The Justice Department moved to dismiss charges against David Hearn, concluding that the pool on the National Mall was damaged by a “botched” installation.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) moved Friday to drop its criminal prosecution of a former Olympian charged with destroying the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying the damage was instead the result of a “rushed and botched installation.”  U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office blamed the contractor for overspraying a

US says contractor caused Reflecting Pool damage, drops case against former Olympian  Reuters

The Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Government lawyers said in a 20-page court filing that information provided since the indictment of David Hearn shows that the damage was the result of a "flawed installation by the contractor" as well as "the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration in the weeks surround

US drops charges against Olympian in Reflecting Pool damage, citing flawed work  USA Today

U.S. government lawyers said in a court filing that information provided since the indictment shows that the damage was the result of a 'flawed installation by the contractor.'

U.S. Attorney for D.C., Jeanine Pirro, is moving to dismiss the felony destruction of property charge against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn after stating that the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was actually “the result of flawed installation by the contractor.”

The Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Trump Admin Drops Criminal Case Against Ex-Olympian Charged With Damaging Reflecting Pool  HuffPost

Justice Department drops criminal case against ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool  AP News

Jeanine Pirro's office says the Department of the Interior withheld records about pre-existing coating problems before David Hearn's indictment.

President Donald Trump had touted the Reflecting Pool update, one of many renovations in D.C. he ordered ahead of America's 250th birthday celebrations.

Justice Department drops criminal case against ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool  Toronto Star

The Justice Department has moved to dismiss a criminal case charging a former Olympian with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

The Justice Department moved to dismiss the criminal case against Olympian David Hearn.

Justice Dept. admits Reflecting Pool renovation was flawed, drops case against former Olympian  CNN

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.