- Charges dropped against Justin Carreno, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Cameron Thiers by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office over damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
- New evidence indicated that the damage was caused by a 'botched installation' by a contractor ahead of the America 250 events, according to prosecutors.
- President Trump expressed disappointment in Pirro's decision, stating she 'choked' and 'made a mistake,' while insisting that 'vandals' caused the damage.
- The three defendants were accused of destroying property valued at less than $1,000, while former Olympian David Hearn faced greater charges.
- Attorneys for the defendants criticized the cases, with Jamison Koehler stating Dennison-Gibby 'was arrested for a crime any rational person knows she did not commit'.
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum supported the claim that 'evidence is clear, vandals have repeatedly caused damage' to the Reflecting Pool.
- Allen Dale, attorney for Thiers, stated his client was 'happy now that this case has been dismissed' but described the last six weeks as a 'nightmare.'
Prosecutors in U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office have dismissed vandalism charges against Justin Carreno, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Cameron Thiers, citing new evidence that the damage to the Reflecting Pool was due to a botched installation rather than vandalism.45
The decision follows a similar dismissal of charges against former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of causing over $1,000 in damage. Prosecutors revealed that internal documents from the Department of the Interior indicated the pool had suffered frequent setbacks due to poor weather and mishaps during sealant application.8910
Attorneys for the defendants expressed relief at the dismissal. Allen Dale, representing Thiers, described the past six weeks as a "nightmare" for his client, who is eager to move on.1617
David Benowitz, Carreno's attorney, criticized the government for what he termed a "fabricated crime," noting that Carreno lost his job as a government contractor shortly after his arrest. Benowitz stated that Carreno is considering legal action against the government.
The dismissals have sparked controversy, with President Trump expressing disappointment in Pirro's decision, claiming that "vandals" were responsible for the damage. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum supported this view, asserting that evidence of vandalism exists, including eyewitness accounts.671415
“Prosecutors revealed that the damage to the Reflecting Pool was caused by a 'botched installation' by a contractor, not by the defendants. Trump's criticism of Pirro's decision included claims that 'vandals' were responsible, while Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that evidence of vandalism was clear.”
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