President Donald Trump has strongly condemned US Attorney Jeanine Pirro for dismissing a case related to alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, stating she had “choked” under pressure from a judge.
“Instead of pursuing the individuals responsible, the judge targeted her and her department, and I guess she choked. I don’t know what the hell happened,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
Pirro’s office mentioned in a court filing on Friday that the damage was due to poor construction rather than vandalism, leading them to drop charges against former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of intentionally harming the newly renovated pool ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration in July.
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The renovated pool had quickly seen algae blooms that turned the water green, while parts of the blue lining had come off.
Trump, facing backlash over the $US14.7 million ($A21 million) renovation, had often blamed these issues on vandals he claimed were deliberately sabotaging the project.
The president asserted that surveillance footage showed people cutting new waterproofing material around the pool and insisted that Pirro, a close political ally, should have kept going with the case.
“Pirro made a mistake. It was vandalism,” Trump stated, expressing he was “really disappointed” in Pirro and remarked that “she folded like an umbrella.”
Pirro, a former Fox News host and longtime supporter of Trump, is currently serving as Washington’s top federal prosecutor.
Trump didn’t say if he spoke directly with her before publicly criticizing her nor did he respond when asked if he was reconsidering her position.
Neither Pirro’s office nor the White House provided immediate comments upon request.
The renovation of the reflecting pool is just one of several projects Trump has initiated throughout Washington. He has demolished part of the White House East Wing to create space for a $US400 million ($A572 million) ballroom and suggested building a large arch between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial.
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