White House Seeks New Charges Against Olympian

The White House has asked the Justice Department to consider new charges against former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The case against Hearn was dismissed without prejudice due to insufficient evidence.

The damage to the Reflecting Pool was attributed to a flawed installation process, not vandalism. Despite this, the White House is seeking new charges, an unusual intervention in a criminal investigation.

Jeanine Pirro, the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, dropped the case against Hearn due to insufficient evidence. President Trump publicly criticized Pirro's decision, writing on Truth Social that the major damage was caused by vandals.

Hearn pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied wrongdoing. His lawyers are fighting to close the case permanently. A local Washington, D.C. judge has dismissed the case and will decide in the coming weeks whether to give prosecutors the opportunity to seek new charges or permanently end the prosecution.

The Justice Department has not made a final decision on whether to bring new charges against Hearn. The case has sparked controversy, with President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum criticizing Pirro's decision to drop the case.

## What's Next The outcome of the case remains uncertain, with the Justice Department yet to decide on whether to bring new charges. Hearn's lawyers will continue to fight for the case to be closed permanently, while the White House pushes for new charges to be considered.

## Background The Reflecting Pool was recently renovated, with the project championed by President Trump. The damage to the pool was initially attributed to vandalism, but it was later found to be caused by a flawed installation process. The case has raised questions about the White House's involvement in the criminal investigation and the potential for political interference.