Five people face arrest charges for vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington, following a Sunday inspection by President Trump that prompted immediate orders to repair and drain the 2,000-foot waterway.
CBS News reported that an administration official confirmed the arrests to reporter Emma Nicholson, along with five additional federal citations issued for the same incident. The total police activity related to the pool damage now stands at 14 reports, including documentation of an alleged 250-foot gash in the structure.
Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday evening that work would commence immediately, stating he had personally toured the site. "I just inspected it, and could only say to myself, and those gathered around me, WOW, who would do such a thing?" he wrote. The president indicated the pool would "probably" be drained as part of repairs.
The pool has deteriorated visibly in recent weeks, beset by algae blooms and peeling paint following controversial renovation work undertaken ahead of America's 250th anniversary celebrations scheduled for next month.
Three-time Olympic athlete David Hearn, one of those arrested, told the Washington Post he was detained by US park police on a misdemeanor charge after stopping to touch a peeling section of the pool's paint liner. He described the contact as a simple tactile inspection rather than vandalism.
DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Sunday that vandalism citations have been issued and those caught damaging the pool face full prosecution. Speaking to Fox News, Pirro warned that anyone caught vandalizing or attempting to vandalize the structure would "face the criminal justice system in DC." She noted that introducing materials into the pool that could trigger algae growth might result in more serious charges, though she provided no specifics on the arrested individuals or citation details.
Trump declined to elaborate on the other arrests or provide details about the circumstances surrounding each case. Questions remain about the precise nature of the damage and whether incidents were coordinated or isolated.
Author James Rodriguez: "A three-time Olympian arrested for touching paint liner while five others face vandalism charges tells you everything about how raw this situation has become in Washington."
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