Federal prosecutors drop Reflecting Pool vandalism cases

Federal prosecutors dropped misdemeanor cases against three people accused in connection with damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, after moving to dismiss a separate vandalism case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said newly released Department of the Interior evidence made it difficult to attribute the widespread damage to vandalism. In a motion Friday, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro blamed flawed installation by a contractor and a rush to finish work before Independence Day events.

President Trump disputed that assessment, saying on social media and in the Oval Office that vandals caused major damage. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum also pushed back, saying his department had provided evidence and testimony about vandalism.

Hearn, who had pleaded not guilty to destruction of property causing more than $1,000 in damage, had maintained he touched a loose piece out of curiosity. The Reflecting Pool had been repainted with a $14 million lining and was drained again after the Fourth of July.

Read the full story at npr.org.