Trump Mulls Dismissal of D.C. U.S. Attorney Over Reflecting Pool Filing

President Donald Trump is weighing the removal of Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, after a Justice Department filing concluded that problems with the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool resulted from a flawed renovation rather than vandalism, two sources familiar with the president’s thinking told CNN.

One source said Trump was "furious" with Pirro and had expressed disappointment throughout the weekend, adding that removal was "highly likely." A senior administration official described Trump as "blindsided" by the filing, noting the president did not know Pirro would submit it.

The Justice Department acknowledged in a Friday court filing that the $14 million renovation was "hasty and botched" and moved to drop the criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn, who had been charged with vandalizing the pool. Hearn has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers are expected to respond to the dismissal request.

Trump publicly criticized Pirro on his social-media platform, stating he disagreed "100%" with her assessment and calling the incident a case of vandalism. Pirro’s filing argued that the Department of the Interior had not provided complete information, which she said led the government to seek a grand-jury indictment.

Despite the dispute, sources said Trump remains convinced vandals caused the damage and is not angry with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who also asserted that vandals were responsible.

Legal experts note that Hearn’s attorneys could pursue disciplinary actions against prosecutors, request investigations by inspectors general, or seek further court rulings. Pirro’s office has asked only that the charge be dismissed without prejudice, allowing the case to be refiled later.

CNN reached out to Pirro’s office and the Justice Department for comment. The White House referred reporters to the president’s earlier statements on the filing and did not comment on the current report.