five arrested – At the Reflecting Pool on Washington’s National Mall, federal and local law enforcement arrested five people for alleged destruction of government property between June 17 and June 21. President Donald Trump used Truth Social posts to warn of prison time and a
By the morning of June 21, the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall had become more than a landmark under construction. It was the focus of federal allegations of vandalism—allegations that quickly turned into arrests, citations, and a public back-and-forth with the president on social media.
At least five people were arrested by members of a DC task force—made up of federal and local law enforcement officials—for destruction of government property at the Reflecting Pool between June 17 and June 21, according to Brady McCarron, a spokesperson for the United States Marshals Service.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, pointed to vandals in posts on Truth Social and warned that prison time could follow. In a June 22 post. Trump wrote that there is “a 10 year prison sentence for the destruction. or even the attempted destruction. of such things – Which will be fully enforced!” His posts repeated claims. without providing evidence. that vandals illegally dumped chemicals into the water and left a gash stretching hundreds of feet in the Reflecting Pool. Those claims came after the reflecting pool faced problems including algae blooms and peeling paint. and after Trump commissioned a roughly $16 million renovation of the site. according to government contract records previously reviewed.
Trump said on Truth Social on June 20 that “multiple individuals” were arrested for vandalizing the Reflecting Pool and that repairs would begin immediately. Hours later. he said “many additional people have been arrested” in connection to the “disgraceful Vandalism of our beautiful Reflecting Pool.”.
Behind the scenes, federal prosecutors were preparing to move cases forward. Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. told Peter Doocy on Fox News’ “Sunday Briefing” that several people had been issued citations related to the alleged vandalism and that the cases would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
NBC News and CBS News reported that in addition to the five arrests. five citations had been issued over the alleged vandalism. both citing an unnamed administration official. Timothy Lauer. a spokesperson for Pirro’s office. told law enforcement on June 22 that his office had received only a handful of citations. which it would review.
One person disputes what happened
For at least one of the people arrested, the story has a different ending. David Hearn. a former Olympic canoeist. told the Washington Post that he was arrested on June 19 and charged with misdemeanor destruction of government property. Hearn. 67. said he reached into the Reflecting Pool and was able to “grab” the end of a “flapping piece. ” but did not remove it. He told the outlet, “I didn’t vandalize anything,” adding, “I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs.”.
Other than Hearn, it remains unclear who else has been arrested or cited.
A Reuters photographer captured a U.S. Park Police officer issuing a citation to a 17-year-old who allegedly took a piece of paint from the pool. Park Police did not respond to questions about the reported arrests and citations. DC police spokesperson Lee Lepe said the Metropolitan Police Department “is not involved with these incidents.”.
At this point. the dispute over the allegations is unfolding in parallel—through court action and citations. and through Trump’s public claims that connect the vandalism allegations to the pool’s condition and recent renovation costs. For now. the only hard timeline law enforcement has offered runs from June 17 to June 21. when the task force carried out the five arrests tied to the alleged destruction of government property.
Reflecting Pool vandalism allegations United States Marshals Service DC task force arrests Truth Social Donald Trump Jeanine Pirro U.S. Park Police National Mall renovation misdemeanor destruction of government property David Hearn