Washington prosecutors, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, have dropped charges against three people accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C., following a similar decision to drop felony charges against former Olympian David Hearn. The misdemeanor charges were dropped after new evidence showed that the damage was caused by a "botched installation" by a contractor, not the defendants. This decision has drawn criticism from President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who have both referred to the perpetrators as "vandals". Three cases were dismissed: those against Justin Carreno, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Cameron Thiers, who had been accused of causing damage worth less than $1,000.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Here is a summary of the news story:
On June 19, former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's new $14 million lining, had charges against him dropped by federal prosecutors in Washington. The decision was made after the Department of the Interior provided evidence to the U.S. Attorney's Office that suggested a "botched installation" by President Trump's hand-picked contractor was responsible for the damage, rather than vandalism as initially thought. As a result, three individuals, including Hearn, had their misdemeanor charges dropped, and prosecutors moved to dismiss similar cases against others accused of damaging the pool. However, President Trump publicly rebuked U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for dropping the cases, calling her a "choker" who made a mistake.
Written for “Reflecting Pool Charges Dropped” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article frames Jeanine Pirro's decision to drop charges as a 'mistake' and implies that she 'choked', which are value judgments with a clear bias towards the White House's perspective. Additionally, the phrase 'vandals have repeatedly caused damage to the Reflecting Pool' is used without providing specific evidence, reinforcing this framing.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.65 for article 352 · logged 2026-08-04
Amid the Trump administration infighting over a decision to move to dismiss a felony criminal charge against a former Olympian who was accused of damaging the
, prosecutors in Washington moved to drop charges against three other defendants who were similarly accused of damaging the pool, court filings reviewed by CBS News in D.C. Superior Court show.
asserted
filings → move → Court
In recent days, federal prosecutors in U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office moved to dismiss three misdemeanor cases following a Friday court filing that moved to
against former Olympian David Hearn.
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that → move → Hearn
In addition to Hearn, prosecutors dropped misdemeanor charges against three others accused of similar damage: Justin Carreno, Sophie Dennison-Gibby and Cameron Thiers, according to court filings.
uncertain
prosecutors → drop → filings
The three were accused of destroying property of value less than $1,000.
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three → accuse → value
CBS News has reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
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News → reach → Office
Hearn, a Maryland resident, said he
on June 19 while on a bike ride, and authorities arrested him after he reached down to touch it.
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he → say → it
He was accused of ripping a piece of sealant from the pool resulting in damage greater than $1,000.
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He → accuse → damage
He denied any wrongdoing.
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He → deny → wrongdoing
Despite accusations from Pirro that Hearn had "damaged the pool," prosecutors on Friday said they dropped the case after new information came to light that the damage was caused by a "botched installation" by a contractor in the rush to finish the project ahead of the America 250 events in Washington.
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damage → damage → Washington
Pirro's office said the Department of the Interior had recently obtained internal documents that show the pool had frequent setbacks due to poor weather and damage occurring to the pool while sealant was being applied.
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sealant → say → pool
Attorneys for Hearn said in a statement Friday that the case "should never have been brought" and that the government "owes Mr. Hearn an apology."
Pirro's decision to drop the charges caught the ire of President Trump, who said she "choked" and "made a mistake," while he insisted that "vandals" damaged the pool.
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vandals → say → pool
"I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro," Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Monday, adding, "I don't know what the hell happened."
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hell → disappoint → Office
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum echoed the White House, saying in a post on X Saturday that the "evidence is clear, vandals have repeatedly caused damage to the Reflecting Pool."
"Some of these acts were even caught on camera.
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Some → echo → camera
We also provided the U.S. Attorney's office expert and eyewitness testimony to the damage done by vandals and provided every piece of evidence they asked for in the requested time line detailing each area of damage at the pool," Burgum said, without providing specific evidence.
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Burgum → provide → evidence
Pirro was later spotted visiting the White House hours after Mr. Trump's comments.
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Pirro → spot → comments
Allen Dale, an attorney representing Thiers, said in a phone interview Monday that his client was "happy now that this case has been dismissed," but that the last six weeks since he was charged have been a "nightmare."
"He's glad it's over and wants to put it behind him," Dale told CBS News.
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Dale → represent → News
Dale said he found out the Justice Department chose not to prosecute Thiers by email overnight Sunday.
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Department → say → email
In a statement to CBS News, Jamison Koehler, an attorney representing Dennison-Gibbey, said his client "was arrested for a crime any rational person knows she did not commit."
David Benowitz, a partner at Price Benowitz LLP who represents Carreno, said his client was a government contractor who was fired days after he was arrested, resulting in Carreno moving from his home due to being unable to afford rent during the "tragedy" his client faced.
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client → represent → tragedy
"We were all at the pool, there's no slashes," Benowitz said in a phone interview with CBS News.
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Benowitz → be → News
As part of a visit to the pool to investigate the damage, Benowitz said he and other lawyers saw the "flawed seams" in the pool and where the liner "bubbled up.
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liner → investigate → pool
Instead, the government "literally fabricated a crime," Benowitz said, adding that his client is considering all legal options against the government after the dismissal.
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client → fabricate → dismissal
"This was the epitome of the politicization of the criminal justice system," Benowitz said.
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Benowitz → say → system
"It's just the sort of the gut-wrenching reality of it.
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It → wrench → it
The guy just goes down to the Reflecting Pool and walks out with a misdemeanor and is fired from his job."
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guy → go → job
