Trump holds off firing Jeanine Pirro despite slamming her over Reflecting Pool climbdown

U.S. Attorney Files Motion to Dismiss Reflecting Pool Charges After Contractor Error Confirmed

President Donald Trump has not removed Jeanine Pirro from her position as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia following the Department of Justice’s decision to seek dismissal of criminal charges against Olympic athlete David Hearn. The motion, filed Friday, stated that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s recently installed blue liner resulted from flawed installation by the contractor rather than deliberate sabotage.

The $14 million overhaul of the Reflecting Pool included a new sealant liner intended to improve water retention. After installation, sections of the liner separated from the pool base, and algae blooms developed, producing a murky appearance. The Trump administration initially attributed the separation to vandalism. Several individuals, including Hearn, were arrested after being observed handling loose sections of the liner at the water’s edge. Pirro held a July 2 press conference at which she described the actions as a deliberate and violent act that “woefully destroyed property.”

The Friday motion reversed that position. It cited evidence that the liner separation occurred because of installation defects by the contractor. The filing also noted that the Department of the Interior had supplied incomplete information to prosecutors at the time charges were filed. Hearn’s attorneys, Norm Eisen, Mary Dohrmann, and Steve Levin of Steptoe, stated that the case “should have never been brought” and described the arrests and charges as an “abuse of government power.” They added that the government’s approach amounted to “ready, fire, aim” and that an apology was owed to Hearn.

Trump stated on Truth Social that he disagreed with the dismissal. “I disagree 100 percent with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool,” he wrote. “I don’t know what she was thinking? To me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM.” He later told reporters in the Oval Office that he believed the matter involved both contractor shortcomings and vandalism, citing photographs and video footage of individuals using a box knife on the liner. “Now, I’m not saying I was 100 percent thrilled with the contractor, but the contractor was rushing,” Trump said. “We wanted to get it open for July 4, and we got it done. But, in addition, there was vandalism.”

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum posted that “the evidence is clear, vandals have repeatedly caused damage to the Reflecting Pool.” CNN reported that Trump and Pirro spoke by telephone on Saturday and that Trump met with Pirro and Burgum on Monday afternoon. No dismissal or resignation occurred. Trump declined to answer a question about whether Pirro would remain in the post, responding to the reporter, “You’re fake news. Don’t ever talk again.”

The Reflecting Pool project forms part of preparations for the United States’ 250th anniversary commemorations. The pool has required repeated maintenance over decades because of leaks, sediment accumulation, and weather exposure. The most recent liner installation was completed under a compressed schedule to meet the July 4 deadline. Initial arrests occurred after security footage showed multiple people interacting with loose material along the edge; prosecutors at the time treated the incidents as coordinated damage rather than opportunistic contact with already defective sections.

Pirro’s motion to dismiss does not resolve separate questions about contractor performance or prior incidents of damage at the site. The Department of Justice filing limited its conclusions to the specific evidence available in Hearn’s case. Hearn has denied any intent to damage federal property. The Independent has requested comment from the White House and the Department of Justice.

Trump’s public statements emphasized his view that the initial evidence supported a vandalism prosecution. Administration officials told CNN that the president was not informed in advance of the decision to file the dismissal motion. The episode has occurred while the administration addresses other domestic and foreign policy matters, including trade negotiations and military operations. No further personnel action regarding Pirro has been announced as of Tuesday.