The Trump administration has been forced to walk back its claims regarding damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, with federal prosecutors now admitting that the peeling sealant was the result of a botched, rushed installation rather than the work of vandals.
The admission comes after charges were dropped against David Hearn, a former Olympian who had been facing a potential 10-year prison sentence for allegedly damaging the site.
Court documents filed by US Attorney Jeanine Pirro reveal that the Department of Interior failed to provide prosecutors with complete information, leading the government to pursue indictments based on a false premise.
The project, which saw its budget balloon from under $2 million to an estimated $16 million, was awarded to a contractor without a competitive bidding process. Despite the massive taxpayer investment, the pool has been plagued by structural failures and peeling sealant since the work was completed.
While the President initially blamed 'sick, deranged' vandals for the damage, the new filing confirms that the issues were caused by the contractor's failure to properly execute the project ahead of the America 250 celebrations.
Hearn’s legal team has blasted the government's conduct, labeling the arrest an abuse of power and a 'ready, fire, aim' approach to justice. The Reflecting Pool has been drained for the second time in three months as the administration attempts to rectify the fallout from the failed project.
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