Politics
Trump sours on Pirro over Reflecting Pool case, won't say her job is safe
Key Points
President Donald Trump on Monday hurled more criticism at Jeanine Pirro as he fumed over the federal prosecutor's decision to drop her Reflecting Pool vandalism case after admitting damage to the water feature was caused by a botched installation. Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, "made a mistake" and "choked" by moving to dismiss the indictment against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Asked if he was reconsidering Pirro's...
President Donald Trump on Monday hurled more criticism at Jeanine Pirro as he fumed over the federal prosecutor's decision to drop her Reflecting Pool vandalism case after admitting damage to the water feature was caused by a botched installation.
Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, "made a mistake" and "choked" by moving to dismiss the indictment against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Asked if he was reconsidering Pirro's role, Trump did not directly answer, saying "I don't know what" and then lashing out at the reporter who posed the question.
The White House, asked later Monday whether Trump continues to support Pirro in her current role, referred CNBC back to the president's comments in the Oval.
Pirro's case, filed in early July, accused the 67-year-old Hearn of damaging the pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial by ripping up part of its sealant with his hands. But in a Friday afternoon court filing in D.C. Superior Court, Pirro wrote that after filing the charges, her office received additional information indicating that a "flawed installation" by the contractor was to blame for the damage.
Trump — who frequently touts the renovation and has repeatedly claimed the project was sabotaged by vandals with knives and box cutters — quickly lashed out at Pirro, writing on Truth Social, "I don't know what she was thinking?"
He ratcheted up the criticism even further in the Oval Office Monday afternoon.
"I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro, really disappointed with Jeanine Pirro," he said. "She folded like an umbrella, and people get away with things, and it's a disgrace."
Pirro's office did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.