U.S. Attorney General Supports Dismissal of Lincoln Memorial Vandalism Case

The U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking on Sunday, expressed his backing for U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after the dismissal of a vandalism case related to the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. On July 31, federal prosecutors sought to drop charges against Olympic canoeist David Hearn. He had faced allegations of causing damage to the $14 million project after issues like cracks and algae growth were found. The prosecution pointed to evidence suggesting the damage might be the result of an unsuccessful renovation rather than deliberate vandalism.

Blanche stated that both he and President Donald Trump support Pirro. However, he acknowledged the president’s concern about the case’s dismissal, noting that potential vandalism could still be a factor. “I absolutely support U.S. Attorney Pirro, as does President Trump,” Blanche mentioned on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” He clarified, “Now, that’s different than whether the president is extraordinarily frustrated at what happened in that case. And I don’t in any way fault him for that.”

Blanche emphasized that court documents did not definitively conclude renovation faults were solely to blame. He noted a witness claimed seeing Hearn vandalizing the reflecting pool, although witness statements alone cannot substantiate the case. “Well, there’s a witness that said, ‘I observed the defendant vandalizing the reflecting pool.’ Now, that’s different than whether ultimately we have the proof,” he explained. Hearn has consistently declared his innocence.

Blanche praised Pirro’s work, emphasizing her achievements in prosecuting memorial and monument vandalism cases. His remarks followed Pirro’s pursuit of a $1,000 property-destruction case connected to vandalism at a veterans memorial. In this incident, a suspect, Melissa L. Farris, allegedly spray-painted “clean hands, diary money” and poured bubble soap into the memorial’s fountain.

“U.S. Attorney Pirro is doing a phenomenal job enforcing that, going after anybody who’s doing it. And I think judging her on a single case because of the evidence that we had is not fair,” Blanche stated.

Blanche also noted the White House’s recent inquiry, suggesting the Justice Department consider a misdemeanor prosecution against Hearn after the initial case was dropped. “Will I take the President of the United States’s view on something into consideration? Yes, of course,” he said. “That’s certainly something that I listen to.”

The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.