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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Alex Woodward

Trump says Jeanine Pirro ‘folded like an umbrella’ in Reflecting Pool case

  • President Donald Trump expressed disappointment in top federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro after she moved to drop charges against a former Olympian accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
  • Pirro's office filed to dismiss criminal charges against David Hearn after the administration admitted the damage was due to "flawed installation by the contractor," not vandalism.
  • Trump reportedly considered firing Pirro, accusing her of "choking" and blaming the judge, despite his administration's failure to produce evidence against Hearn.
  • The court filing revealed that the recently applied blue sealant started to peel "almost immediately" after renovations, and the Department of Interior provided "less than fulsome information" initially.
  • The administration spent nearly $14.7 million on the pool renovation, bypassing competitive bidding for a no-bid contract, and Trump continued to insist on vandalism despite evidence pointing to a "rushed and botched installation."

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