Pirro Promises To Prosecute Those Trump Says Vandalized Reflecting Pool
Opponents of the president have cheered the Lincoln Memorial pool's problems.
President Trump vowed Saturday to have the Reflecting Pool repaired “as quickly as possible,” while U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro promised Sunday those defacing it will face prosecution.
Mr. Trump said on social media “terrible Vandals” damaged the pool, which lies between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, in “a true affront to both Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and should be dealt with accordingly.”
The pool had been refilled starting June 5 after resurfacing and repainting.
“We met with contractors today, will probably be forced to release and drain much of the water in order to do the necessary repairs,” Mr. Trump wrote.
Some of the “American flag blue” paint that covered the bottom of the pool, which is 2,028 feet long and 167 feet wide, had come off, while green algae blooms appeared following the pool’s refilling.
“Many additional people have been arrested having to do with the disgraceful Vandalism of our beautiful Reflecting Pool,” Mr. Trump wrote. “It hasn’t looked or worked like this since 1922, when it was originally built, but even then, it leaked badly, and didn’t work. Ours worked perfectly, including the mirror like finish, perfectly reflecting the two Great Monuments, which it never had before!”
The only person whose arrest has been publicly revealed is David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland. U.S. Park Police arrested him Friday on a charge of destroying government property.
Mr. Hearn, a cyclist and former Olympic canoeist, denied he committed vandalism. He told local television station WUSA, “There wasn’t any part of that that was damaged by my hand.” He will appear in D.C. Superior Court July 9.
Ms. Pirro appeared on Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing” to discuss the defacings. “These cases will be prosecuted to the fullest extent,” she said. “Products to create algae or a bigger problem, we’ll consider more serious charges.”
The president threw some social-media shade Friday at a network-television chief Washington correspondent who covered the story.
“Lightweight ABC Reporter, Jonathan Karl, was seen sticking his hand into the Pool, and trying to rip the rubber off of the surface,” he wrote.
Mr. Trump added, “The algae is 75% gone, and the condition will soon be completely remedied, and the area that was vandalized, fortunately, is just a small area of damage, and will be fixed early next week.”
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