President Donald Trump has again accused former Olympian David Hearn of violently damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, even as he concedes there is no video or proof of vandalism.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday evening, Trump claimed a "highly credible witness" from the National Park Service saw Hearn vandalize the pool in broad daylight by "violently ripping and tugging at the pool's somewhat delicate coating."
Trump said the witness provided testimony to the U. S.
Attorney's Office in early July, before prosecutor Jeanine Pirro dropped vandalism charges against Hearn and others.
Despite the accusation, Trump admitted there was "some contractor error done by rushing the job for a July 4th opening," but described the errors as occurring in a "very small" area and being "relatively inconsequential."
He also acknowledged, "there is no video or proof" of vandalism "other than the damage itself."
Hearn was charged with one felony count of destruction of property, but U. S.
Attorney Jeanine Pirro dismissed the case on July 31. In a court filing, Pirro blamed the U.
S. Department of the Interior for not sharing information about "flawed installation by the contractor."
Trump then criticized Pirro for dropping the case, telling reporters she "choked" and "folded like an umbrella."
Hearn is seeking to have the case dismissed with prejudice to prevent it from being revived, claiming Trump's public statements expose him to continued harassment.
