President Donald Trump is considering the removal of Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, after her office moved to dismiss a criminal case involving the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, according to people familiar with the matter. The president has expressed fury over the decision, stating on Monday that Pirro folded like an umbrella
and choked
by dropping the charges.
The Reflecting Pool Vandalism Case
The dispute centers on a felony destruction of property charge against David Hearn, a 67-year-old former three-time Olympic slalom canoeist. On July 2, Pirro announced the indictment of Hearn, alleging he forcefully and violently
ripped up a piece of the pool’s blue sealant on June 19. At the time, Pirro called such vandalism an affront to our shared history
. Hearn pleaded not guilty in D.C. Superior Court, with his attorney describing him as a curious citizen who touched a liner that was already peeling.
In a court filing on Friday, Pirro’s office requested to dismiss the case, stating that newly discovered information made it difficult to attribute widespread damage to vandalism or establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt. The Justice Department acknowledged in the filing that the $14 million renovation of the pool was hasty and botched
. Government lawyers attributed the damage to a flawed installation by the contractor and a rush to complete the project before Independence Day 2026 events associated with the America 250 celebration.
Presidential Reaction and White House Conflict
President Trump has repeatedly clashed with Pirro over the dismissal. On Saturday, he posted to Truth Social that he disagreed 100%
with her and maintained that the damage was a pure case of VANDALISM
. Trump claimed that individuals used knives or cutters to slice the material, citing a video he posted to Truth Social as evidence, though he admitted the tape isn’t a great tape
.
During a news conference in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he was really disappointed
in Pirro. He suggested she choked
because the judge in the case was really vicious
and extremely unfriendly
to her and her department.
Internal Friction and Legal Fallout
Pirro’s filing did not only admit the renovation was flawed but also blamed other federal agencies. Her office alleged that the Department of the Interior provided less than fulsome information
at the start of the case and argued that if the department had been forthcoming, the government would not have sought a grand jury indictment. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum pushed back against this, stating on social media that the evidence clearly showed vandals caused the damage.
Sources indicated that Pirro spoke with Trump by phone on Saturday in a conversation that wasn’t pretty
. During the call, Pirro reportedly told the president that career officials in her office were responsible for the filing. Pirro met with Trump at the White House on Monday afternoon, but she did not resign and was not fired during the meeting.
Status of the Case and Pirro’s Tenure
As of Monday afternoon, the judge had not officially dismissed the charges against Hearn. Michael R. Bromwich, Hearn’s attorney, stated that nothing is off the table
, including seeking more grand jury records or asking the judge to dismiss the case so it cannot be refiled.
Pirro, a former judge and Fox News host, was appointed by Trump as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia in May 2025 and was confirmed by the Senate in August 2025. Her current uncertainty follows other recent dismissals by the administration, including former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington Roger Rogoff, who was dismissed in mid-July.
