Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host and now a US Attorney, clashed with a reporter on Thursday when the journalist attempted to compare the alleged vandal of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to participants in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
David Hearn, 67, a former Olympian, was arrested last month and has since been indicted on a single count of property destruction. Prosecutors allege Hearn damaged the Reflecting Pool's recently applied paint, causing approximately $1,000 in damage. Pirro stated that Hearn 'forcefully and violently' pulled up the pool's liner with his hands and acted belligerently toward an employee.
During a press conference, a reporter asked Pirro how she reconciled charging Hearn when over 1,000 January 6 rioters, who caused millions in damages, faced different outcomes. Pirro interrupted the reporter, calling the question "a problem" and stating, "I'm not [talking about January 6]," before moving on to other questions.
Pirro has previously amplified claims of a stolen 2020 presidential election, a narrative that fueled the January 6 events. Court documents obtained by the Washington Post indicated that her own producer had warned her to be careful with her rhetoric regarding election fraud claims. Fox News later settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million in 2023.
Hearn has denied the accusations, calling the charges a "farce" and a "lie." He stated he did not damage the pool and only touched a "loose flap of coating" out of curiosity. His attorneys described the indictment as "outrageous" and an attempt by the administration to "shift blame for their own failures."
The Reflecting Pool renovations, championed by former President Donald Trump as part of a beautification effort ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary, were completed on June 6. However, issues with algae blooms and peeling paint emerged less than two weeks later. Trump had previously warned of "years in jail" for anyone vandalizing the pool, accusing unspecified individuals of using "corrosive and destructive chemicals" and knives to inflict damage.
Crews have been seen using hydrogen peroxide and nanobubble ozone technology to address algal growth and keep the water clear. A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior stated that the National Park Service is actively maintaining the pool, employing high-tech methods to combat algae, pathogens, and contaminants. Hearn, however, maintains the administration "clearly wanted a news story" about vandalism to promote, asserting he was wrongly accused.