Blanche Backs Pirro After Trump Criticism Over Pool Case

US Attorney General Todd Blanche has publicly backed Washington DC prosecutor Jeanine Pirro after President Donald Trump criticised her handling of an alleged vandalism case at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. “I absolutely support US Attorney Pirro, as does President Trump,” Blanche said on NBC’s Meet the Press.

Pirro sought dismissal of charges against former US Olympian David Hearn, saying peeling material at the pool resulted mainly from flawed contractor work and incomplete information from the Interior Department. Trump has blamed vandals and urged Pirro to revisit the decision. Blanche said Trump was entitled to feel frustrated, but judging Pirro on one case was unfair because prosecutors lacked sufficient proof. Pirro’s office has separately charged a Kentucky woman over alleged graffiti at the World War II memorial.

The White House has asked the Justice Department to examine potential new charges. Blanche also declined to promise that the department would operate independently of the White House, while saying he would prosecute without fear or favour.