Trump Considers Firing Jeanine Pirro Over Reflecting Pool Case

President Donald Trump is considering the removal of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro following a public rift over the dismissal of criminal charges against former Olympian David Hearn and three others. The defendants were accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, but Pirro moved to drop the cases on August 1, citing evidence that the pool's deterioration resulted from a "hasty and botched" $14 million renovation rather than intentional vandalism.

Pirro attributed the failures to shoddy workmanship by contractors, including Atlantic Industrial Coatings and Greenwater Solutions, who rushed the project to meet a July 4th deadline. She further alleged that the Department of the Interior withheld critical documents from prosecutors to conceal these errors. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum disputed these claims, maintaining that evidence of vandalism remains clear.

Trump publicly rebuked Pirro on Truth Social, claiming she "choked" and "folded like an umbrella," while insisting the damage was a "pure case of VANDALISM." During a tense meeting at the White House on August 3, Trump reportedly yelled at Pirro and "read her the riot act." Despite this, Pirro was not fired during the encounter and later attempted to stabilize her office by offering staff retention bonuses.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended Pirro's performance but affirmed that the president has the authority to terminate her. Speaking from Los Angeles on August 5, Trump stated he had not yet made a final determination regarding her employment.