Judge dismisses Reflecting Pool case permanently, cites risk Trump will force new charges

Source: CNBC

“A judge on Thursday dismissed the criminal case accusing former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and permanently barred prosecutors from refiling the same charges. District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman, in his order tossing the case ‘with prejudice,’ cited the ‘exceptional circumstances’ of the risk that President Donald Trump would pressure prosecutors to re-charge Hearn. A dismissal with prejudice prevents a case from being refiled.” (10/01/26)

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/01/reflecting-pool-vandalism-dismissed-hearn-trump.html