President Donald Trump again blamed vandals for damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Oct. 19, despite federal prosecutors’ finding that installation failures caused the damage and led them to drop a felony charge.
In a Truth Social post, Trump estimated that the pool was 70% full after repairs and warned that future vandals “will GO TO JAIL!” He also criticized the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia over its findings.
The office said in a July 31 court filing that records obtained after it indicted David Hearn pointed to faulty work by Atlantic Industrial Coatings, LLC, as the cause of damage to the pool’s liner in June. Prosecutors also cited pressure to finish the work before Independence Day events. They sought dismissal of Hearn’s felony property destruction charge.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman granted the dismissal Aug. 6. On Oct. 1, he made it with prejudice, preventing prosecutors from reinstating that charge against Hearn. Edelman cited the government’s assessment of the evidence and concern that political pressure could prompt another prosecution.
The National Park Service began closing the pool for renovation April 10. The project included cleaning the basin, repairing joints and adding a liner that the agency said would reduce later repairs. Atlantic Industrial Coatings said it completed warranty repairs Oct. 2.
Visitors remain subject to restrictions at the pool and adjacent walkways. A Park Service notice schedules the closure through 11:59 p.m. EDT on Oct. 20, with earlier reopening possible.
