President Donald Trump on Monday publicly voiced his disappointment with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host, following the dismissal of charges against an Olympian accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
"I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro, really disappointed with Jeanine Pirro," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "She folded like an umbrella, and people get away with things, and it's a disgrace."
Pirro, who was appointed U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. by Trump in May 2025, oversaw the dismissal of charges against U.S. Olympian David Hearn. Hearn had been accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a project Trump had personally championed as part of his initiative to beautify Washington, D.C. ahead of America's 250th anniversary.
The incident occurred in June when portions of the recently renovated pool's liner detached and floated to the surface. Park Police arrested Hearn, who was subsequently indicted on a felony count of property destruction. Hearn pleaded not guilty.
However, a court filing released Friday indicated that new evidence "undermines the evidentiary basis for the indictment." The filing revealed that documents suggested the damage to the pool resulted from a "botched installation and not vandalism as initially represented" by the Interior Department. The damage was attributed to a "flawed installation by the contractor" and the "rush to complete the project."
"Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt," the filing stated.
Hearn had previously asserted his innocence, telling the Daily Mail last month that the accusations were "completely unfounded" and "a lie."
Trump, who was reportedly furious over the case's outcome, did not directly state whether Pirro's position was under review when asked by reporters. When pressed about reconsidering her role, Trump sharply responded, "You're fake news. Don't ever talk again. You're fake news. One of the worst in the business."