U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche expressed his support for U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after her office sought to dismiss a vandalism case related to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Federal prosecutors, on July 31, opted to drop charges against Olympic canoeist David Hearn. He was initially accused of damaging the $14 million renovation project following the discovery of cracks, algae growth, and peeling sealant. Prosecutors pointed to evidence suggesting that the damage could be a result of a flawed renovation instead of intentional vandalism.
Blanche stated that he and former President Donald Trump both back Pirro, yet he understood Trump’s frustration over the case’s dismissal. Although potential vandalism might still be involved, solid evidence remains critical.
“I absolutely support U.S. Attorney Pirro, as does President Trump,” Blanche mentioned on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” He added that the president’s frustration is not unwarranted given the situation.
TRUMP URGES JEANINE PIRRO TO REVISIT DROPPED LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL VANDALISM CASE
Blanche clarified that court filings did not exclusively attribute the damage to faulty construction. A witness reportedly claimed to have observed Hearn vandalizing the reflecting pool. However, Blanche noted, witness testimonies alone are not conclusive evidence.
“There’s a witness that said, ‘I observed the defendant vandalizing the reflecting pool.’ This differs from having definitive proof,” he explained.
Olympic canoeist David Hearn has consistently maintained his innocence amid these allegations.
In addition, Blanche commended Pirro’s work on prosecuting vandalism cases involving memorials and monuments, highlighting her office’s recent filing in a separate $1,000 property-destruction case involving a veterans memorial. In this case, Melissa L. Farris allegedly vandalized the site by spray-painting graffiti and dumping bubble soap into a fountain.
“U.S. Attorney Pirro is doing a phenomenal job addressing these acts. Evaluating her performance based on a single case does not paint an accurate picture,” Blanche argued.
He also mentioned considering a recent White House request to explore a new misdemeanor prosecution against Hearn following the dropped case. Listening to the President’s views remains something he takes into account.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comments.
Report by Bonny Chu, Breaking and Trending News Writer for Fox News Digital
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