Charges dropped against US ex-Olympian in Reflecting Pool case after damage blamed on renovation
Criminal charges against a former Olympian arrested at Washington's Reflecting Pool have been dismissed after authorities revealed the damage was caused by poor construction work, not vandalism.
A former Olympian detained by National Guard troops and US Park Police in June after stopping by the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during a bike ride had charges against him dropped. Government lawyers moved to dismiss the case in court, acknowledging that pressure to ready the pool for July 4 celebrations contributed to the situation. The US Attorney's office determined the damage resulted from shoddy construction rather than vandalism, contradicting earlier claims about the cause.
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1News
Case dropped against US ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool
David Hearn was detained by National Guard troops and US Park Police for five hours after stopping by the pool during a bike ride on June 19.
Stuff
Trump blamed vandals for damaging the Reflecting Pool. Now the real cause has been revealed
In a court filing, the US government moved to dismiss criminal charges against a former Olympian they accused of vandalism, and admitted the US president’s rush to ready the pool by July 4 contributed to the situation.
Stuff
Trump blasts own lawyer after she drops Reflecting Pool vandalism charges
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro suggested the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was the result of shoddy construction and not the work of vandals.
Newstalk ZB
Trump slams prosecutor for dropping reflecting pool vandalism case
President Donald Trump’s extraordinary campaign to blame an apparently botched renovation of Washington’s reflecting pool on vandals took another twist on Saturday when he attacked his hand-picked prosecutor for dropping charges against an ex-Olympian arrested in the controversy.
Stuff
Trump says prosecutor ‘folded like an umbrella’, and ‘choked’, in Reflecting Pool vandalism case
President Donald Trump says US Attorney Jeanine Pirro “choked” and “folded like an umbrella” in moving to drop charges against a former Olympian accused of vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.