President Donald Trump is weighing the removal of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro following a contentious Justice Department court filing. The filing concerns the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and explicitly contradicts the President’s stance on the matter. While the administration previously maintained that damage to the landmark was the result of vandalism, the Justice Department now identifies the cause as a flawed $14 million renovation project.
The President expressed significant frustration with the development, characterizing Pirro’s decision to file the motion as a failure of leadership. Reports indicate that the President felt blindsided by the move, which led to the dropping of criminal charges against former Olympian David Hearn. Hearn had been facing felony vandalism charges, but prosecutors now admit the case lacked a proper foundation.
During a recent conversation, Pirro reportedly attributed the filing to career officials within her office. Despite this explanation, the President remains dissatisfied with how the case was handled. He has publicly criticized the move on social media, reiterating his conviction that the pool damage was intentional and caused by external actors rather than structural or planning errors by the government.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has also weighed in, standing by the administration’s original narrative that vandals are responsible for the damage. Documents obtained via freedom of information requests appear to complicate this position, as internal communications between the National Park Service and local water authorities suggest drainage plans were discussed well before the allegations of vandalism were formalized.
As the situation stands, the court has not yet officially dismissed the charges against David Hearn. Legal counsel for the defendant is currently weighing several options, including potential civil litigation and formal complaints regarding prosecutorial conduct. The tension between the Department of Justice and the White House on this issue persists while the future of Pirro’s tenure in Washington remains uncertain.