Source: Fortune
Summary
President Donald Trump disputed US Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s assessment that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was caused by a botched installation, not vandalism. Pirro’s office moved to drop charges against a former Olympian, David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the pool. Trump insisted that vandals were responsible, despite a court filing citing new evidence that the damage was due to a contractor’s mistake. Pirro’s office blamed the Interior Department for not providing sufficient information, leading to the indictment. Hearn’s legal team criticized Trump and Pirro, saying the renovation was responsible for the damage.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. Trump’s pet project, the Reflecting Pool renovation, has turned into a PR disaster. The initial indictment of David Hearn was based on “tremendous evidence,” but new information revealed that the damage was likely caused by a contractor’s mistake. The Interior Department’s lack of transparency led to the indictment, and now Pirro’s office is backing down. Trump’s insistence on blaming vandals seems out of touch with reality. The Reflecting Pool debacle is another example of Trump’s troubled track record with high-profile projects.
Author: Evan Null
