Attorney General Todd Blanche Faces Investigation Over Dismissed Reflecting Pool Indictment
A House Judiciary Committee probe into the dismissal of a felony indictment against a cyclist accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could place new pressure on Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The House Judiciary Committee has opened an investigation into the handling of a grand jury indictment against 67-year-old David Hearn, who was charged with vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after briefly touching a detached liner piece during a bike ride. Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin announced the probe, questioning whether prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, led by Jeanine Pirro, acted with knowledge of Hearn’s likely innocence and whether key evidence was withheld by the Interior Department.
Raskin’s letter to Pirro and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum cited a damage-assessment report indicating that the pool’s liner defects resulted from faulty installation during a $15 million renovation ordered by President Donald Trump, rather than any wrongdoing by Hearn. The indictment was filed shortly after the renovation’s completion, but Pirro moved to dismiss the charges within weeks, citing missing exculpatory documents.
"Despite DOJ’s attempt to point the finger at DOI, recent filings show that Ms. Pirro’s team of prosecutors was perfectly aware of Mr. Hearn’s likely innocence before they charged him with a felony," Rep. Raskin said.
The White House has reportedly discussed with the Justice Department the possibility of pursuing new charges against Hearn, a step that would be unusual given the recent dismissal. A federal judge has scheduled a hearing to determine whether the dismissed indictment can be reinstated with prejudice, which would prevent future prosecutions on the same conduct.
Legal analyst Norm Eisen warned that dismissing the case with prejudice is intended to protect individuals from repeated harassment and bad-faith prosecutions, citing concerns about the president’s public statements on the matter. The investigation and potential judicial review are expected to test the new Attorney General’s ability to navigate the controversy.