All articles tagged with #reflecting pool
New government documents show Atlantic Industrial Coatings blamed the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool liner damage on a rushed, no-bid renovation and incompatible bonding materials, not alleged Antifa vandals. Repairs are ongoing under warranty, and vandalism charges have been dropped or challenged as the investigation shifts toward the contractor's oversight and materials.
A contractor hired to renovate the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool says human oversight and a flawed repair design caused the blue liner to peel, undercutting Trump’s vandalism claims. Documents show primer issues and incompatible chemicals in a rushed project aimed to finish before the 4 July anniversary, with some vandalism charges being dismissed; Atlantic Industrial Coatings says it will remedy the work under warranty.
Documents reviewed by The New York Times show the Reflecting Pool damage stems from faulty renovation work by Atlantic Industrial Coatings: incompatible chemicals and insufficient primer caused the liner to blister and peel, contradicting vandalism claims and leaving repairs ongoing under contract.
New government documents show the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's blue liner failure stemmed from Atlantic Industrial Coatings' errors and a flawed repair plan, not vandalism. The contractor cited human oversight and an incompatible two-chemical layering in the renovation, conducted under a rushed, no-bid contract during the Trump administration. The pool remains drained as repairs continue, with the government paying about $14.7 million for the work.
A D.C. judge will decide whether to dismiss the indictment against former Olympian David Hearn over the Reflecting Pool damage; prosecutors seek dismissal without prejudice so a future grand jury could reindict if new evidence emerges, while Hearn’s lawyers urge dismissal with prejudice. The case hinges on whether the damage was vandalism or a flaw in installation, a determination bolstered by Interior Department findings, and has drawn attention due to President Trump’s remarks about the matter.
A June warning from a National Park Service engineer about peeling in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during renovations preceded a June 19 charge against former Olympian David Hearn for destruction of property; prosecutors later dropped the case after Interior Department documents indicated the damage resulted from flawed installation and overspray by the contractor, not vandalism, while Trump publicly claimed the pool was vandalized and there were moves to dismiss the case without prejudice.
President Trump claims vandals damaged dead grass on the National Mall near the World War II Memorial—the site of his July 4 celebration—without providing evidence; photos show brown patches beneath the event infrastructure, and the piece notes related vandalism cases and an arrest at the World War II Memorial, with charges not tying to the grassy area Trump referenced.
The White House has asked the Justice Department to consider new charges against Olympian David Hearn in the Reflecting Pool renovation case, potentially misdemeanors after the prior felony case was dismissed; Trump blasted the earlier decision on Truth Social, and DOJ discussions are informal and not yet involving AG Todd Blanche. A hearing will decide whether the dismissal could be with prejudice. Separately, Rep. Jamie Raskin opened an inquiry into possible DOJ misconduct and Pirro’s role, and reports note a Washington, D.C. special grand jury that could issue a report even if charges are not pursued.
The White House asked the Justice Department to consider new charges against David Hearn in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool vandalism case after DC U.S. attorney Jeanine Pirro dropped the indictment, saying damage predated Hearn’s visit and blaming a contractor for faulty installation. Trump harshly criticized Pirro’s decision, and the White House’s request to Main Justice signals possible political influence over the DOJ. The case’s basis for revived charges remains unclear, and the DOJ has not publicly committed to pursuing further action.
President Trump acknowledged a contractor error in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation, saying a rushed installation contributed to damage amid costly renovations; prosecutors had attributed the damage to flawed installation tied to finishing before America’s 250th celebration, and charges against alleged vandals were dropped. The project will continue with added security cameras once completed.
President Trump suggests the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism was inspired by James Comey, as the DOJ’s ongoing cases against the former FBI director—centered on a seashell post alleged to threaten Trump—continue to unfold amid broader political fallout.
Trump highlighted a National Park Service witness account alleging David Hearn violently ripped at the Reflecting Pool’s coating, pressing U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to revisit the case after prosecutors moved to drop the felony destruction of property charge; prosecutors had indicted Hearn but later sought dismissal, citing installation flaws and contractor issues, while Trump argues the damage was deliberate and notes ongoing repairs and security measures.
President Donald Trump spent the weekend pushing vandalism allegations about the Reflecting Pool renovation and pressuring U.S. prosecutor Jeanine Pirro after she dropped charges against former Olympian David Hearn, even as prosecutors admitted the Interior Department hadn’t supplied all relevant evidence and officials said the pool damage stemmed from a rushed installation of a blue liner.
A New York Times report details President Trump’s rushed $14 million Reflecting Pool renovation, overseen by a Bedminster golf-club manager with no engineering training, using no-bid contracts with firms tied to Trump. The project, meant to be finished ahead of July 4, faced algae and peeling lining, and sparked a blame game over vandalism versus a botched installation as critics allege legal shortcuts were used to meet a tight deadline.
President Trump urged U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to reconsider her decision to drop charges against former Olympian David Hearn for vandalizing the Reflecting Pool; prosecutors dismissed the case after finding evidence suggesting faulty work rather than vandalism, but a federal judge left open the possibility to revive the case, and Trump claimed witnesses saw vandalism while Pirro’s ally status and criticisms have intensified.