Judge Todd Edelman permanently dismissed the felony case against Hearn "with prejudice," which bans federal prosecutors from reviving the charges. The judge called the prospect of a future prosecution "fanciful" after Interior Department documents showed the pool's "American flag blue" lining peeled due to a botched installation by a contractor. The ruling followed assertions from President Trump that Jeanine Pirro's office had "folded like an umbrella" by previously attempting to drop the case without prejudice.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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David Hearn Requests Federal Probes After Permanently Dismissed Pool Case
US Politics11 days ago
Internal watchdogs at the Justice Department and the Interior Department have been urged to investigate the "abuse of power" that led to the wrongful prosecution of former Olympic canoeist David Hearn. His legal team stated that Hearn was deprived of his liberty and threatened with up to 10 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. While the government has cleared Hearn, President Trump maintains that "sick people" used boxcutters to attack the Reflecting Pool and announced that site repairs are complete and will be refilled this week.
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