Prosecutors in Washington recently dropped charges against three individuals accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This decision follows the dismissal of charges against former Olympian David Hearn, who faced accusations of causing significant damage to the pool.
According to CBS News, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Jeanine Pirro, dismissed misdemeanor cases against Justin Carreno, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Cameron Thiers. These defendants were alleged to have destroyed property valued at less than $1,000.
Hearn’s case, which initially attracted attention due to claims of over $1,000 in damages, was dropped after new evidence indicated the damage resulted from a contractor’s botched installation. Hearn denied any wrongdoing and was backed by his attorneys, stating the charges should not have been filed.
President Trump expressed disapproval of the decision to drop the charges, claiming that “vandals” were responsible for the damage. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum supported this view, stating the pool had suffered repeated vandalism, though specific evidence was not provided.
Attorneys for the accused criticized the handling of the cases. Allen Dale, representing Thiers, described the last six weeks as a “nightmare” for his client. Jamison Koehler and David Benowitz, representing Dennison-Gibbey and Carreno, respectively, emphasized their clients’ innocence and highlighted the personal and professional consequences they faced.
Benowitz argued that the government fabricated the case, calling it a “politicization of the criminal justice system.” He mentioned that his client, Carreno, lost his job as a result of the charges and is contemplating legal action against the government.
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