Trump Interferes, Pressures U.S. Attorney Pirro to Reopen Baseless Reflecting Pool Case
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President Trump, continuing his pattern of undermining judicial independence, has publicly pressured U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to reconsider dropping charges against former Olympian David Hearn, despite evidence exonerating Hearn and exposing flaws in the prosecution.
President Donald Trump once again used his social media platform on Aug. 7 to meddle in the justice system, urging U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to revisit her recent decision to dismiss a dubious felony indictment against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn. The indictment, which accused Hearn of damaging the reflecting pool’s lining and causing over $1,000 in repairs, carried a draconian ten-year prison sentence—an example of the excessive criminalization that plagues the U.S. justice system.
"U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro should re-visit her decision," Trump wrote, resorting to personal attacks by calling Hearn’s lawyer, Norm Eisen, a "political hack lawyer."
Norm Eisen, a respected former White House ethics lawyer under the Obama administration and co-founder of the Democracy Defenders Fund, has been at the forefront of holding the current administration accountable for its abuses. Neither Eisen nor the Justice Department responded to requests for comment, likely recognizing the inappropriate nature of Trump’s interference.
Pirro’s July 31 filing made clear that the indictment was based on incomplete information from the Department of the Interior, which later admitted the damage was due to a rushed and poorly executed renovation ahead of the "America 250" celebration—hardly the fault of Hearn. Yet Trump, who previously attacked Pirro for "folding like an umbrella," continues to undermine prosecutorial independence. This latest episode is yet another example of Trump’s disregard for the separation of powers and his willingness to politicize the justice system for personal vendettas.