WASHINGTON, D.C., United States: President Donald Trump renewed his vandalism claim in the Reflecting Pool case on Sunday after a judge dismissed the charge against former Olympian David Hearn.
Trump shared a court document on Truth Social. It quoted a National Park Service employee who accused Hearn of pulling at the pool’s coating.
Trump called the employee a credible witness. He also acknowledged that he had no video or other evidence of alleged damage elsewhere in the pool, Fox News reported.
Fox News published its account at 7:53 p.m. EDT on August 9, or 4:53 a.m. PKT on August 10. The available sources did not display Trump’s exact posting time.
D.C. Superior Court Associate Judge Todd Edelman dismissed the felony charge on August 6. He has not decided whether prosecutors can bring the same charge again, ABC News reported.
Read: Trump Sought Comey Interview Notes, Court Filing Says
The Justice Department requested the dismissal after records revealed problems with the contractor’s installation. Prosecutors said that evidence weakened the basis for Hearn’s indictment.
Read: Trump Account Closures Followed AML Review, Bank Says
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia sought dismissal without prejudice. Hearn pleaded not guilty, while his lawyers asked Edelman to block any future prosecution over the same allegation.
Trump previously accused Pirro of having “folded like an umbrella” by dropping the case. Edelman plans to schedule further arguments after both sides submit their remaining filings.
