Full Breakdown
Trump’s Reflecting Pool Reopening Stalls Amid Contractor Issues and Legal Dispute
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Reflecting Pool Reopens, Closes, and Faces New Scrutiny
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool received a fresh “American Flag blue” paint coat and a new filtration system in the spring and reopened to visitors in the second week of June. It was forced to close on July 5 after algae overgrowth and peeling paint reappeared. President Donald Trump later claimed vandals had cut a 350-foot slash in the pool and asserted the work was “almost complete.” “Well, yeah, we had vandalism there, and we have it about as vandal-proof as you can get, but only sick people do that. And we have to have pictures, but sick people do that,” — Trump. Furthermore
Contract Awards and Installation Problems
The refurbishment was carried out under a $13.1 million no-bid contract awarded to Atlantic Industrial Coatings and a separate $1.7 million contract to Green Water Solutions for the filtration system. Investigators have found no evidence of vandalism; instead, officials attribute the pool’s condition to a “botched installation.” Trump later said, “They destroyed the brand-new, beautiful grass at the reflecting pool…the grass was destroyed with the letters, and that’s been just about completed, too.” “They destroyed the brand-new, beautiful grass at the reflecting pool…the grass was destroyed with the letters, and that’s been just about completed, too,” — Donald Trump, president
Legal Controversy Involving Olympic Swimmer David Carter Hearn
A lingering issue is Trump’s demand that the Department of Justice pursue charges against Olympic swimmer David Carter Hearn, who was arrested after touching a piece of the floating paint while biking past the pool in June. Prosecutors dismissed the case with prejudice in early October, following a motion by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to drop the charges against Hearn and two others. Hearn’s legal team has alleged that officials suppressed exculpatory evidence and pursued a politically motivated indictment, and they have called on watchdogs in the Justice and Interior departments to investigate.
Official Statements & Responses
He also reiterated that the pool would be filled and completed “this week.” Federal prosecutors have not charged any vandals, and investigators continue to examine the contractor’s performance rather than criminal wrongdoing.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Well, yeah, we had vandalism there, and we have it about as vandal-proof as you can get, but only sick people do that. And we have to have pictures, but sick people do that,” — Trump. Furthermore
- “They destroyed the brand-new, beautiful grass at the reflecting pool…the grass was destroyed with the letters, and that’s been just about completed, too,” — Donald Trump, president