Folks, I’m sipping my coffee and reading about President Trump considering removing Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, and I just can’t help but think, what’s going on here? According to CNN, Trump is “furious” with Pirro over a Justice Department conclusion that problems with the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool stemmed from a flawed renovation rather than vandalism. I mean, who wouldn’t be furious when their multi-million dollar renovation project goes awry? But let’s get to the bottom of this story.
Pirro, a former Fox News host and longtime ally of Trump, is in hot water over a court filing that directly blamed other federal agencies, including the Interior Department, for not being forthcoming with information about the bungled renovation. Trump, on the other hand, is still convinced that vandals are responsible for the damage to the Reflecting Pool. I’m not sure what’s more surprising, the fact that Trump is still pushing the vandalism narrative or that Pirro is getting heat for trying to tell the truth.
The Justice Department acknowledged in a court filing on Friday that the president’s $14 million renovation of the Reflecting Pool was “hasty and botched” and said it was dropping the criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of vandalizing the landmark. Hearn had previously pleaded not guilty to the felony charge in DC’s Superior Court. It’s worth noting that internal communications between the National Park Service and DC Water make no mention of any vandalism as the department was planning to drain the pool.
Trump met with both Pirro and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum at the White House on Monday afternoon, and while Pirro wasn’t fired, it’s clear that her job is on the line. Trump publicly criticized Pirro’s decision to drop the case, saying she “choked” and “folded like an umbrella.” Ouch, that’s some harsh language from the president. Pirro, on the other hand, told Trump that it was the career officials in her office who were responsible for the filing.
The situation is getting more complicated by the day, with Hearn’s lawyers considering referring the prosecutors involved to a bar disciplinary authority, asking inspectors general to look at the conduct of the Justice Department and Interior Department, filing lawsuits, and seeking more of the grand jury record documenting the prosecutors’ presentation of the indictment. It’s a mess, folks, and I’m not sure how it’s all going to play out.
As I finish my coffee and wrap up this story, I have to say that it’s been a wild ride. The Reflecting Pool debacle has all the makings of a classic Washington scandal, complete with finger-pointing, blame-shifting, and a healthy dose of drama. And at the center of it all is Jeanine Pirro, who’s trying to navigate the treacherous waters of Washington politics. I’m not sure what the future holds for Pirro, but one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be interesting to watch. And who knows, maybe someday we’ll get to the bottom of what really happened to the Reflecting Pool. Until then, I’ll just be over here, sipping my coffee and enjoying the show 🙄.
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
