A federal court has permanently dismissed the vandalism case against David Hearn, closing the legal chapter in a dispute over damage to the National Mall's Reflecting Pool. The decision ends the government's attempt to hold Hearn responsible for what prosecutors had characterized as vandalism.
According to Techdirt, the case centered on a repair job that went wrong, with the pool described as algae-infested and full of liner chunks. The court's ruling suggests that Hearn's involvement was not the criminal act alleged, but rather an incidental contact with a pool already in poor condition.
The dismissal also undercuts any effort by the Trump administration's Department of Justice to continue pursuing the case. Techdirt notes that the outcome means it no longer matters what the president wants his DOJ "minions" to do, as the court has put the matter to rest.