Federal prosecutors in the office of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro have moved to dismiss misdemeanor vandalism charges against three individuals, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal controversy surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The decision follows a Friday court filing that similarly dropped felony charges against former Olympian David Hearn, who had been accused of damaging the site.
The three defendants recently cleared of charges are Justin Carreno, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Cameron Thiers. Each had been accused of destroying property valued at less than $1,000. These dismissals come amid internal friction within the Trump administration regarding the handling of the cases, as court filings in D.C. Superior Court reveal.
The legal scrutiny began on June 19 when Hearn, a Maryland resident, was arrested after allegedly touching the pool during a bike ride. Authorities initially claimed he ripped a piece of sealant, causing damage exceeding $1,000. However, prosecutors eventually acknowledged that the damage was likely the result of a “botched installation” by a contractor rushing to complete the project before the America 250 events in Washington. Internal Department of the Interior documents cited by Pirro’s office indicated the pool suffered from frequent setbacks, including poor weather and damage during the sealant application process.
President Trump expressed public frustration over the dismissals, telling reporters at the Oval Office on Monday that he was disappointed in Pirro, claiming she “choked” and “made a mistake.” The President maintained his stance that “vandals” were responsible for the damage. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum supported this view, stating on X that evidence of vandalism was clear and that the department had provided expert testimony and surveillance footage to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Attorneys for the accused have sharply criticized the government’s handling of the situation. Jamison Koehler, representing Dennison-Gibby, stated that his client was arrested for a crime “any rational person knows she did not commit.” Similarly, Allen Dale, who represented Thiers, noted that while his client is relieved the case is over, the six-week ordeal was a “nightmare” that he is eager to put behind him.
David Benowitz, a partner at Price Benowitz LLP representing Carreno, described the situation as an example of the “politicization of the criminal justice system.” According to Benowitz, Carreno, a government contractor, was fired shortly after his arrest, forcing him to relocate because he could no longer afford his rent. Benowitz asserted that during a site visit, he and other legal counsel observed “flawed seams” and areas where the pool liner had “bubbled up,” rather than evidence of intentional vandalism.
“The government literally fabricated a crime,” Benowitz said, adding that his client is currently weighing all legal options against the government. He characterized the experience as a “gut-wrenching reality” for a citizen who simply visited the monument only to face criminal charges and the loss of his livelihood.
While the U.S. Attorney’s office has moved to dismiss the cases, the broader political fallout continues. Pirro was observed visiting the White House shortly after the President’s public criticism. Attorneys for Hearn have previously stated that the government “owes Mr. Hearn an apology” and that the charges against him should never have been filed in the first place.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not provided further comment on the specific dismissals beyond the recent court filings. As the legal proceedings conclude for these four individuals, the conflicting narratives between the administration’s claims of vandalism and the defense’s assertions of structural failure remain a point of contention.
Dale said he found out the Justice Department chose not to prosecute Thiers by email overnight Sunday.
“We were all at the pool, there’s no slashes,” Benowitz said in a phone interview with.
has reached out to the U.S.
Despite accusations from Pirro that Hearn had “damaged the pool,” prosecutors on Friday said they dropped the case after new information came to light that the damage was caused by a “botched installation” by a contractor in the rush to finish the project ahead of the America 250 events in Washington.
“Some of these acts were even caught on camera.
The guy just goes down to the Reflecting Pool and walks out with a misdemeanor and is fired from his job.”
