The US Justice Department will not investigate allegations of misconduct against prosecutors involved in the case against Olympic athlete David Hearn, whose felony charge over damage to Washington’s Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was later dismissed. Instead, the department’s inspector general has referred the matter to an internal office responsible for reviewing attorney conduct, prompting Hearn’s lawyers to question whether a meaningful investigation will take place.
In an October 21 letter to CBS News obtained by CBS News, Hearn’s attorneys stated that Inspector General Don Berthiaume had found that the allegations did not fall within his jurisdiction. They were referred to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) of the Justice Department for investigation of certain allegations regarding departmental lawyers.
