White House asks DOJ to consider new prosecution in Reflecting Pool case

Officials are exploring a misdemeanor prosecution in the Lincoln Memorial pool case after prosecutors moved to drop the felony charge against Olympic canoeist David Hearn.

White House asks DOJ to consider new prosecution in Reflecting Pool case

TL;DR

  • White House officials are asking the DOJ to consider a new prosecution against David Hearn for alleged vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
  • Federal prosecutors had previously moved to dismiss felony charges against Hearn, citing findings that installation flaws, not vandalism, caused the damage.
  • Hearn's attorneys criticized the potential for a new prosecution, stating it would further harass an innocent man and undermine the DOJ's credibility.
  • President Trump had previously urged prosecutors to reconsider dropping the charges and alleged Hearn had political connections to a Democratic fundraising platform.