白宫正推动美国司法部重新考虑对前奥运选手大卫·赫恩提起新的指控，涉及他对林肯纪念堂反思池的破坏[1]。此前哥伦比亚特区检察官珍妮·皮罗于2024年7月31日以证据不足为由撤销了原有指控[1]。皮罗办公室在撤销诉讼文件中指出，"难以将反思池的广泛损坏归咎于破坏行为，更难以确立超越合理怀疑的事实"[1]。
赫恩辩称他是在6月骑自行车时伸手触摸了一块已经脱落的衬垫[1]。白宫对该案件的撤销一直感到不满，现正要求司法部对赫恩案重新评估是否提出新的控罪[1]。
The White House is pressing the Department of Justice to reassess potential charges against former Olympic athlete David Hern in connection with damage to the Lincoln Memorial's reflecting pool in Washington, D.C. [1] This push comes after the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, led by prosecutor Jenny Pirro, dismissed the original charges on July 31, 2024, citing insufficient evidence. [1] In a 20-page filing, Pirro's office stated it was "difficult to attribute the extensive damage to the reflecting pool to vandalism and even more difficult to establish facts beyond a reasonable doubt." [1]
Hern had claimed he merely touched a piece of padding that had already come loose while riding his bicycle in June. [1] The White House has remained dissatisfied with the case dismissal and is now urging the Justice Department to evaluate whether new charges can be brought against Hern. [1]