- Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, promised to investigate the government’s botched attempt to charge a former Olympian with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool liner.
- U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office had charged David Hearn with felony destruction of property for alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool liner.
- The U.S. Attorney later dropped the charges, admitting in a court filing that the damage was due to poor installation, not vandalism, and claimed her office was misled by the Interior Department.
- Lieu condemned Pirro's actions as "radical, unethical and unconscionable," accusing her of attempting to "destroy the life" of Hearn based on false evidence.
- The incident sparked bipartisan criticism, with Donald Trump expressing surprise and insisting vandals were responsible, while other lawmakers questioned the initial indictment and called for accountability.
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