{
  "id": 112506,
  "title": "How the Reflecting Pool saga saw Trump sour on hand-picked prosecutor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/how-the-reflecting-pool-saga-saw-trump-sour-on-hand-picked-prosecutor",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-04T02:29:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-04/trump-pirro-hearn-reflecting-pool-case/106994150"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "US President Donald Trump has publicly criticised US Attorney Jeanine Pirro for dropping charges against a former Olympian accused of vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. According to CBS News, prosecutors moved to drop charges against David Hearn and three others accused of similar damage: Justin Carreno, Sophie Dennison-Gibby and Cameron Thiers.\n\nThe case involved Hearn, who was accused of ripping a piece of sealant from the pool, resulting in damage greater than $1,000. However, Pirro's office later said in a court filing that the damage resulted from shoddy construction, not vandalism. Trump claimed surveillance footage showed people cutting newly installed waterproofing material around the pool and argued that Pirro should have continued pursuing the case.\n\nTrump sharply criticised Pirro, saying she had \"choked\" under pressure from a judge and \"folded like an umbrella\". The incident has raised questions about Pirro's standing with the president, with whom she has enjoyed a friendly relationship for decades. Pirro visited the White House Monday evening after Trump lashed out at her on camera hours earlier.",
  "key_points": [
    "Trump accused Jeanine Pirro of \"choking\" over dropped charges.",
    "Allegations of vandals using corrosive chemicals dismissed.",
    "Trump opposed Pirro's decision to drop charges, calling it \"VANDALISM\"."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The disagreement over the Reflecting Pool case exposes a rift between Trump and his hand-picked prosecutor Pirro, potentially jeopardizing her future as US attorney for the District of Columbia.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}