Six people have been arrested and seven others issued federal citations for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, President Trump stated on Truth Social, Tuesday.
Read more DOJ Finds USDA Preferences for ‘Socially Disadvantaged’ Farmers Are Discriminatory
Trump alleged that vandals had cut a 350-foot gash in the pool’s coating and introduced chemicals causing algae blooms.
“The 350 foot gash, made by a very sharp knife or razors, is actually numerous slashes over a very long 350 foot length,” Trump wrote, adding that repair work has been scheduled after the 4th of July.
It was purposefully and criminally done, and somebody had to work very hard, probably in the dark of night, to create such a condition. Likewise, the small area at the bottom of the Pool was cut and powerfully lifted off the surface leaving very jagged, uneven edges. The large areas of grass are being replaced. In any event, even prior to fixing those areas, the Reflecting Pool is as beautiful as it can be. We will drain some of the water, either immediately before or after the Fourth of July, to do the permanent repair.
The pool was refilled earlier this month following a $14-million renovation, and the results were stunning.
But algae quickly re-emerged, turning the water green, and then the pool’s new “American flag blue” paint coating started to peel.
Over the weekend, the president also referenced the giant “86 47” marked in grass on the National Mall, stating it was “probably inspired by Dirty Cop, James Comey!”
Additionally, Trump suggested that “corrosive and destructive chemicals” had been illegally poured into the pool by vandals, causing the surface to peel.
On Wednesday, Trump shared a photo on Truth Social of the bottom of the pool before it was refilled.
“This is the hard rubber surface — No Paint — Before the Vandals cut and pulled it apart!” Trump wrote.
Read more DOJ Announces 455 Defendants Charged in $6.5 Billion Health Care Fraud Crackdown
Both U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and Trump have warned that suspects could face up to ten years in prison if caught vandalizing the pool.
As of Monday, a total or 14 police reports had been filed, with Trump officials insisting that the damage was the result of “intentional sabotage.”
Among those detained was David Hearn, 67, a former Olympic canoeist who said he was held for five hours for touching loose, peeling paint, allegedly out of curiosity.
Reflecting Pool renovation critics meanwhile have celebrated the pool’s struggles, claiming that all the damage was caused by renovation flaws rather than any criminal acts. Some leftists have even demonstrated at the Reflecting Pool in favor of the algae.
The National Park Service is currently using hydrogen peroxide and nanobubble ozone technology to eradicate the algae, while workers manually vacuum the basin.
Trump on Tuesday posted photos of the Reflecting Pool on Truth Social that had been taken that day, showing how much progress had been made.
Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which received the no-bid contract for the Reflecting Pool coating, told Scripps News that the repairs will be made as part of the project’s warranty.
“These repairs can not be made until the pool is drained,” the company said. “As soon as its feasible for the Park, the pool will be drained and AIC will be back to make those needed repairs as part of the warranty.”
Read more Judge Strikes Down Trump-Era Courthouse Arrest Policy
