How the Reflecting Pool saga saw Trump sour on hand-picked prosecutor

US President Donald Trump has accused Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, of "choking" after she dropped charges against a three-time Olympian accused of vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The spat emerged from a months-long controversy surrounding the multi-million-dollar renovation of the iconic monument, which saw no-bid contracts awarded to companies with personal ties to Trump.

After the pool was refilled in June, an algae bloom turned the waters green and the newly installed blue lining began to peel. Allegations of vandals pouring corrosive chemicals into the pool were later dismissed. On June 19, Olympian David "Davey" Hearn was detained and indicted for damaging the pool's lining, but prosecutors ultimately decided to drop the case due to new evidence suggesting the damage was caused by a "botched installation" by a contractor.

Pirro cited this new information in her move to dismiss the charges, an action that Trump vehemently opposed, referring to it as "a pure case of VANDALISM". He expressed his disappointment with Pirro, stating he "100%" disagreed with her decision. Rumors are now circulating that Trump is considering removing Pirro from her role, though as of Monday evening, she remained in the White House and had not resigned.