WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump sharply criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Monday, stating she “choked” and “folded like an umbrella” after her office moved to dismiss criminal charges tied to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Political tension has erupted in the nation’s capital following a public rebuke by President Donald Trump directed at D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. The fiery fallout follows a Department of Justice court filing that moved to drop felony charges against a former Olympian accused of vandalizing the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The Reflecting Pool Controversy and Dropped Charges
The legal battle centered on allegations that individuals intentionally damaged the high-profile monument’s multi-million-dollar blue lining. However, a 20-page court filing from Pirro’s office changed course, stating that internal documentation revealed the damage resulted from a rushed and flawed installation by the contractor rather than deliberate criminal destruction.
Key Details of the Legal Reversal
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Dismissal of Indictment: Prosecutors officially moved to drop the case against former Olympic athlete David Hearn, alongside separate misdemeanor charges.
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Contractor Botch: Court papers cited adverse weather, sealing failures, and a hasty construction timeline leading up to independence celebrations as the root cause of the peeling liner.
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Missing Information: Pirro’s office noted that the Department of the Interior initially provided incomplete information that pointed solely toward vandalism.
President Trump’s Oval Office Rebuke
Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, Trump expressed profound disappointment with his handpicked federal prosecutor, arguing that pressure from the presiding judge caused her office to back down.
What Trump Said About the Decision
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“She Choked”: Trump claimed that pressure from a “vicious” judge caused Pirro’s office to surrender instead of defending the prosecution.
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Folded Under Pressure: The president explicitly stated that Pirro “folded like an umbrella”.
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Administrative Future: While reports surfaced regarding whether the administration would consider removing her, Pirro was later spotted visiting the White House to navigate the growing rift.
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