White House Directs Justice Department to Explore New Charges in Lincoln Memorial Pool Case

The White House has directed the Department of Justice to evaluate potential new charges against David Hearn, an Olympic canoeist, in connection with alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The request comes weeks after federal prosecutors under U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro dismissed felony charges against Hearn, citing insufficient evidence to support the original allegations.

Interior Department investigators determined that visible deterioration of the $14 million renovation project—including cracks, algae growth and sealant peeling—stemmed from construction defects rather than deliberate destruction. White House officials have asked the DOJ to assess whether Hearn could instead face a misdemeanor charge, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal.

Hearn’s legal team swiftly opposed any renewed prosecution, arguing that pursuing charges after the government acknowledged lack of evidence would damage the Justice Department’s institutional credibility. “If true, it would mark a shocking first: a case that the DOJ lost by its own admission because it lacked the evidence to convict, returning from the dead,” the attorneys stated in a joint statement issued by Norm Eisen, Mary Dohrmann and Steve Levin.

Park Police identified Hearn as a suspect after he was observed handling a loose section of the pool’s protective coating on June 19, an action National Park Service staff told him to cease. Hearn was originally indicted July 2 on one felony count of property destruction, with estimated damages placed at approximately $1,000.

President Donald Trump has publicly pressured Pirro to reconsider her dismissal decision, claiming knife slashes were visible in the pool material and alleging witnesses observed suspicious activity. Trump also criticized Hearn’s political affiliations and his attorney Norm Eisen, characterizing both negatively in public statements.

Pirro’s office filed the dismissal without prejudice on July 31, a procedural maneuver that technically preserves the government’s right to refile charges. The decision marked the conclusion of a case that generated significant political attention and disagreement between the White House and federal prosecutors.