{"id":2643317,"date":"2026-08-11T18:58:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T22:58:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-wont-rule-out-new-reflecting-pool-charges\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T19:02:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T23:02:21","slug":"doj-wont-rule-out-new-reflecting-pool-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-wont-rule-out-new-reflecting-pool-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ won&#8217;t rule out new Reflecting Pool charges"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-wont-rule-out-new-reflecting-pool-charges%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2643317&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Justice Department is considering possible new criminal charges related to damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after reports that white house officials asked prosecutors to revisit a previously dropped case against Olympic canoeist David Hearn, at the urging of president Trump. The DOJ indicated it follows the evidence and hasn&#8217;t confirmed any specific request to reopen the case.reports suggest informal discussions about misdemeanor charges are ongoing. Trump publicly disputed findings that damage resulted from installation issues, claiming rather vandalism, and accused a government employee of witnessing Hearn damaging the pool. Hearn initially faced a felony charge, but the case was dismissed after further evidence showed damage was caused by a faulty installation rather than vandalism; his legal team seeks a dismissal with prejudice to prevent future prosecution. Several other misdemeanor cases against individuals accused of damaging the pool were also dismissed. Trump criticized the prosecutors involved, and there is ongoing political tension, including criticism of Prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, who oversaw the case dismissals.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\">Justice Department<\/a> is not ruling out possible new criminal charges connected to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after reports that White House officials asked prosecutors to revisit their dropped case against Olympic canoeist David Hearn, as President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> has publicly pressed U.S. Attorney <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeanine-pirro\/\">Jeanine Pirro<\/a> to pursue the case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Department of Justice follows the evidence when determining if crimes have been committed,\u201d a DOJ spokeswoman told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, without answering whether the department is being asked to reopen any dropped cases. \u201cWe always evaluate any case based on the facts and the law.\u201d A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/white-house\/\" data-type=\"category\" data-id=\"125\">White House<\/a> official referred the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> to the DOJ and Trump\u2019s recent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\">Truth Social posts<\/a> when asked whether the administration was seeking new charges in the case.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4683232\/doj-possible-new-reflecting-pool-vandalism-charges-trump\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ won\u2019t rule out new charges for Reflecting Pool vandals as Trump calls to revisit dropped cases<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4682502\/wpath-transgender-standards-of-care-guidelines-opinions-fraud-case\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Advocates call out transgender health group for admitting its guidelines are \u2018opinions\u2019 in fraud case<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4682832\/doj-memo-gives-trump-playbook-shield-outside-advisers-democrats-win-subpoena-power\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ memo gives Trump playbook to shield outside advisers if Democrats win subpoena power<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">The Washington Monument is seen in the background of the now drained Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Rahmat Gul)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/AP26210668281669.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Washington Monument is seen in the background of the now drained Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Washington. (Rahmat Gul\/AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DOJ\u2019s response comes as the <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em> reported Tuesday that White House officials had asked the DOJ to consider a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/us-news\/law\/white-house-asks-justice-department-to-consider-new-reflecting-pool-prosecution-1bbf8d8b\">new prosecution<\/a> of Hearn. The department has held informal, preliminary discussions about whether misdemeanor charges could be possible, according to the report.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump has sharply disputed the conclusion of Pirro\u2019s office that a botched Reflecting Pool installation, rather than vandalism, was responsible for the damage that prompted Hearn\u2019s felony indictment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a Truth Social <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/117067837821298859\">post<\/a> on Sunday, Trump said a career National Park Service employee had told the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office in early July that the employee saw Hearn \u201cviolently\u201d rip and tug at the pool\u2019s coating. Trump also claimed additional damage occurred at the pool, although he acknowledged contractor error in what he characterized as a small, relatively inconsequential area of the project.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump said there was no video or other proof of the additional damage beyond the damage itself. He also alleged that an \u201cacid like material\u201d had been used on nearby newly installed grass, with \u201c86 47\u201d written on it, a term the DOJ has looked at with intense scrutiny in an unrelated prosecution involving former FBI Director James Comey and his social media post using the phrase last summer.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an Aug. 7 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/117056188782446044\">post<\/a> replying to X user Andrew Leyden, Trump asserted that the Reflecting Pool material had been cut for \u201c300 feet or more,\u201d citing unspecified witnesses, and said people had been on their knees with their hands in the water where the \u201cslashes\u201d appeared. He thanked Leyden for his observation and urged Pirro to \u201cre-visit her hastily made decision.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump additionally asserted that Hearn was affiliated with Democratic political action committee ActBlue and attacked one of Hearn\u2019s attorneys, Norm Eisen, a frequent critic of the president who has handled several lawsuits against the administration\u2019s policies and has represented defendants of the federal government under the current Trump administration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hearn initially faced a misdemeanor charge after visiting the Reflecting Pool during a June bike ride. Prosecutors later obtained a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4642073\/david-hearn-former-olympic-canoe-racer-plead-not-guilty-reflecting-pool-sealant\/\">felony indictment<\/a> alleging destruction of government property, and he faced up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Pirro\u2019s office <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4671639\/pirro-dismisses-reflecting-pool-vandalism-charge\/\">moved on July 31 to dismiss<\/a> the felony case without prejudice after the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/interior-department\/\">Interior Department<\/a> produced additional documents. The government said the records showed the damage was caused by a flawed installation, rather than vandalism, undermining the basis for the indictment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The request to dismiss without prejudice left open the possibility of a future prosecution. Hearn\u2019s legal team is now seeking a dismissal with prejudice, which would prevent the government from bringing the case again based on the same alleged conduct.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Joshua Kolb, one of Hearn\u2019s attorneys, told NBC News on Tuesday that the defense had asked the court for that outcome because the government\u2019s requested dismissal would otherwise allow prosecutors to reindict Hearn later.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kolb accused the Trump administration of allowing political considerations to drive the prosecution, an allegation the government has not admitted. He said Hearn\u2019s lawyers had filed court motions beginning shortly after the arraignment that, in their view, showed Hearn could not have caused the damage prosecutors alleged.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A hearing is scheduled next month on whether the dismissal should be with prejudice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pirro\u2019s office also moved to dismiss <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4674442\/pirro-drops-charges-reflecting-pool-vandalism-trump\/\">three other misdemeanor cases<\/a> against Justin Carreno, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Cameron Thiers, who had also been accused of damaging the Reflecting Pool. The DOJ spokeswoman did not specify whether the department\u2019s statement about evaluating cases under the facts and law applied to Hearn, the other defendants, or all of the dismissed cases.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump publicly criticized Pirro after the dismissals, saying she had \u201cchoked,\u201d though he did not move to fire her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4669101\/trump-jeanine-pirro-save-her-job\/\">TRUMP HAS SOURED ON JEANINE PIRRO, BUT SHE CAN STILL SAVE HER JOB<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pirro faced separate criticism Monday from White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, who said during an appearance on Steve Bannon\u2019s <em>War Room<\/em> podcast that she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/gc22gc\/status\/2086854626918428686\">should fire John Crabb<\/a>, a prosecutor involved in Navarro\u2019s and Bannon\u2019s respective criminal contempt of Congress cases.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDo me a favor, Steve, when I\u2019m on camera \u2026 And you don\u2019t want to talk about something like [Pirro] \u2026 never mention her friggin\u2019 name to me, because that woman still refuses to fire John Crabb, the prosecutor who was involved in putting you and me behind bars, OK?\u201d Navarro said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ considers new charges in Lincoln Reflecting Pool case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2643318,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26217655290901.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[38348,5045,4901,35580,78950],"class_list":["post-2643317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-federal-investigation","tag-government","tag-justice","tag-legal-charges","tag-reflecting-pool"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26217655290901.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2643317"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2643320,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2643317\/revisions\/2643320"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2643318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2643317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2643317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2643317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}