- Jeanine Pirro dropped the Reflecting Pool vandalism case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn.
- On Friday, Trump’s Justice Department moved to dismiss the charge, citing damage that was “the result of flawed installation by the contractor”; Pirro wrote that documents showed “a rushed and flawed installation process”.
- Hearn is weighing ‘all options’ for legal recourse; his attorneys are seeking dismissal with prejudice and say the government owes him an apology.
- David Hearn was detained by the National Guard and US Park Police for five hours after stopping by the reflecting pool during a bike ride.
- Hearn’s attorneys wrote that the “grand jury transcripts” disclosed so far contain “other irregularities” reflecting a misleading presentation and requiring review.
- Trump said Pirro had “choked” and “folded like an umbrella” over the dismissal, and later said “I disagree 100% with [her]”.
- The justice department dropped the charge “without prejudice”, so it can be refiled; Hearn’s team is seeking dismissal “with prejudice”, and attorney Norm Eisen said “all legal remedies are on the table”.
Jeanine Pirro has dropped the vandalism case against David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, after the Justice Department concluded that damage to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool was due to faulty installation rather than vandalism. Hearn, 67, faced a felony charge that could have led to a 10-year prison sentence and a $1,000 fine after being arrested on June 19.12346
Hearn's attorney, Steven Levin, stated that “all options are on the table” for legal recourse following the dismissal. The charge was dropped “without prejudice,” allowing for the possibility of it being refiled. Levin emphasized that the government “owes Mr. Hearn an apology.”
The case stemmed from a $14 million renovation of the reflecting pool during Donald Trump’s administration, which was marred by peeling issues attributed to a rushed installation process. Hearn was the only individual charged, despite four arrests. His attorneys criticized the initial prosecution as a misuse of government power, asserting that the case should never have been brought.
Hearn expressed his frustration, having been detained for five hours by the National Guard and US Park Police during a bike ride near the pool. His legal team plans to pursue all available remedies to address what they describe as a miscarriage of justice.
“Charge was dropped without prejudice, so it could be refiled; Hearn’s attorneys are seeking dismissal with prejudice and say the government owes him an apology. Hearn told the AP he was detained for five hours by the National Guard and US Park Police during a bike ride.”
The Guardian
