President Trump on Monday accused US Attorney Jeanine Pirro of folding “like an umbrella” for dismissing charges against former Olympian David Hearn — rather than standing by the case that alleged the canoeist vandalized the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.
“The judge was extremely unfriendly to Jeanine and frankly, I think she choked,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. “The judge was really vicious. Instead of going after the people that did it, the judge went after her and went after her department, and I guess she choked.”
“I was disappointed in Jeanine Pirro. Really disappointed in Jeanine Pirro,” he added. “She folded like an umbrella.”
Pirro’s office submitted the motion to dismiss on Friday, arguing the Department of Interior, led by Secretary Doug Burgum, “provided less than fulsome information at the outset of this case.”
However, Trump, who pushed for the renovations at the Reflecting Pool – even going there personally to supervise them – focused his ire on Pirro.
“Pirro made a mistake. There was vandalism,” he said. “People get away with things, and it’s a disgrace.”
Trump argues the pool, which sits before the Lincoln Memorial, was vandalized. Hearn was charged with “forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner” of the pool with both hands on June 19. He pleaded not guilty and said left the reflecting pool in the same condition he found it.
Hearn did tug at the sealant at the bottom of the Reflecting Pool and was told to stop by authorities, a July 31 court filing shows, but it then goes on to blame the contractor on the project. The pool’s lining had “[a]lmost immediately” begun peeling after the work was completed after the Virginia-based company got a no-bid contract for the renovations.”
That was due to “overspraying and a failure of the coatings to bond” as part of a rushed job to finish before Independence Day festivities.
Trump said the contractor did work too fast but also maintained that vandalism took place.
“I was 100% thrilled with the contractor, but the contractor was rushing. We wanted to get it open for July 4th, and we got it done. But in addition, there was vandalism,” he said.
Trump blasted Pirro on Truth Social on Saturday, shortly after her office announced the dismissal of the charges. His unhappiness was still evident on Monday.
CNN reported the president is considering removing Pirro as the US attorney for the District of Columbia. Pirro’s office did not respond to the Post’s request for comment.
Trump didn’t answer when asked if he was reconsidering Pirro’s role. Instead he berated the reporter from MS NOW who asked him the question.
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