Trump concedes contractor error in Reflecting Pool but renews vandalism charges against former Olympian

The botched renovation

The Trump administration rushed a $14 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to finish by July 4th, with the contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings installing a new blue lining and water-purification system. The Independent put the cost at $14.7 million. When the pool was refilled in June, the lining began peeling up and the purification systems failed to prevent a massive algae bloom that turned the water green. The pool remains drained for repairs, with Trump stating it "will reopen shortly."

From vandalism charges to dismissals

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro charged at least seven people with vandalizing the pool, including former Olympian David "Davey" Hearn, a 67-year-old canoe slalom athlete who represented the United States at three Olympic Games in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Hearn entered a not guilty plea on July 9. Pirro's office later concluded the damage stemmed from a botched installation rather than sabotage, and moved to drop the charges. A judge agreed to drop the case against Hearn and three others last week, but prosecutors sought dismissal "without prejudice," leaving open the possibility of refiling. Hearn's lawyers filed a 28-page motion asking for dismissal "with prejudice" to close the case permanently. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman has yet to rule on that question.

Trump's persistent claims

Trump has refused to accept the conclusion that the damage was self-inflicted. On Sunday, August 9, he posted on Truth Social that "there was also some contractor error done by rushing the job," but insisted the resulting damage from this was confined to "a very small area" and "relatively inconsequential." He cited a National Park Service employee, described only as a "highly credible witness," who allegedly saw Hearn "violently" ripping and tugging at the pool's coating. Trump admitted there was "no video or proof" to support the vandalism claims, adding that security cameras "have been, and are being, installed." He accused Pirro of "folding like an umbrella," said he "disagreed 100%" with her decision, and mused that "I think she choked." He has called on Pirro to "re-visit her hastily made decision" and declined to say whether he would seek her removal.

Infighting and the Comey connection

The controversy has spilled into internal administration conflict. Pirro confronted Interior Secretary Doug Burgum face-to-face in the Oval Office, accusing him of misleading the president, according to the New York Times. Burgum had joined Trump in pressuring Pirro, claiming his department supplied prosecutors with expert and eyewitness testimony documenting vandalism, an account Pirro's office disputed. Trump also dragged former FBI director James Comey into the saga, suggesting that "86 47" graffiti measuring roughly 15 by 30 feet at the pool site was "probably gotten from James Comey." Comey faces felony charges over an Instagram post showing seashells arranged to spell "86 47," which Trump claimed was a coded call for his assassination. A previous case against Comey, brought by then-U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan for lying to Congress, was tossed after Halligan was ruled to have overstayed her term. The DOJ filed a new two-count indictment in April 2026.

Hearn's response

Hearn described the experience as "Kafkaesque" and "Orwellian" in an interview with NPR on Monday, August 10. His lawyer, Norm Eisen, told NPR's All Things Considered:

“We feel strongly this case should be dismissed for once and for all. Davey is an innocent man. He shouldn't have to go through this a second time.”