U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday publicly backed U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after she moved to dismiss vandalism charges in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool case. Blanche’s comments came during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, where he also acknowledged President Donald Trump’s frustration with the decision.
Blanche stated he ‘absolutely supports’ Pirro, aligning with Trump’s stance while clarifying that the president’s reaction was understandable. The case involved former U.S. Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of vandalizing the newly renovated Reflecting Pool, a $14.7 million project completed ahead of Independence Day celebrations. Prosecutors cited evidence suggesting the damage may have resulted from a flawed renovation rather than intentional vandalism, leading to the dismissal of charges on July 31.
Blanche emphasized that Pirro’s decision did not preclude the possibility of vandalism, noting a witness had claimed to observe Hearn damaging the pool. However, he acknowledged that witness testimony alone was insufficient to sustain the case. Hearn has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
Pirro’s office cited contractor errors and incomplete information from the Interior Department as factors in the pool’s deterioration, which included algae blooms and peeling sealant. The dismissal prompted Trump to publicly urge Pirro to reconsider her decision, calling it ‘hastily made.’
Blanche described Pirro’s broader work prosecuting vandalism cases as ‘phenomenal,’ though he did not address the specific policy or procedural changes that led to the dismissal. The Attorney General’s remarks followed Pirro’s office pursuing a separate $1,000 property-destruction case involving a different memorial, indicating ongoing enforcement efforts under her tenure.