The Department of Justice moved on Friday to drop its criminal prosecution of a former Olympian who was previously charged with destroying the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Per court records, prosecutors have pointed to management issues as the reason for the damage. CNN reported that the new filing is unusually descriptive and points to the contractors as well as other federal agencies for the bungled renovation.
According to The Hill, the office of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro indicated that the damage to the landmark was the result of a rushed, botched installation rather than vandalism. The Trump administration now admits that it no longer stands behind the case against David Hearn, a three-time Olympic canoeist who had pleaded not guilty to felony destruction of property earlier this month.
